E43 vs K90
E43 (Unspecified severe protein-calorie malnutrition) compared with K90 (Intestinal malabsorption), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.
Can these codes be reported together?
No — do not report together. E43 carries an Excludes1 note covering K90: “intestinal malabsorption (K90.-)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
Side by side
| E43Unspecified severe protein-calorie malnutrition | K90Intestinal malabsorption | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Non-billable header |
| Classification | E00-E89 — Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases (E00-E89) | K00-K95 — Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95) |
| Definition | Unspecified severe protein-calorie malnutrition is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (E43). | Intestinal malabsorption is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (K90). |
| Includes | Starvation edema | — |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources