ICD-10 code for steatorrhea

The ICD-10-CM code for steatorrhea is K90.9 (Intestinal malabsorption, unspecified). The official index lists 5 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on K90.9.

Within K90, choose K90.9 (unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: celiac disease (K90.0), tropical sprue (K90.1), blind loop syndrome, not elsewhere classified (K90.2), pancreatic steatorrhea (K90.3), other malabsorption due to intolerance (K90.4) and other intestinal malabsorption (K90.8).

As a secondary diagnosis it is a CC (complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the "with CC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 391 (Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive Disorders with MCC, relative weight 1.2392) and DRG 392 (Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive Disorders without MCC, relative weight 0.7645), in MDC 06 (Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.