K50 vs K51
K50 (Crohn's disease [regional enteritis]) compared with K51 (Ulcerative colitis), 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. K50 carries an Excludes1 note covering K51: “ulcerative colitis (K51.-)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
No — do not report together. K51 carries an Excludes1 note covering K50: “Crohn's disease [regional enteritis] (K50.-)”
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
| K50Crohn's disease [regional enteritis] | K51Ulcerative colitis | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Non-billable header |
| Classification | K00-K95 — Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95) | K00-K95 — Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95) |
| Definition | Crohn's disease [regional enteritis] is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (K50). | Ulcerative colitis is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (K51). |
| Includes | granulomatous enteritis noninfective inflammatory bowel disease | noninfective inflammatory bowel disease |
| Use additional code | code to identify any associated fistulas, if applicable: anal fistula (K60.3-) anorectal fistula (K60.5-) | code to identify any associated fistulas, if applicable: anal fistula (K60.3-) anorectal fistula (K60.5-) |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources