K56 vs Q42
K56 (Paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction without hernia) compared with Q42 (Congenital absence, atresia and stenosis of large intestine), 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. K56 carries an Excludes1 note covering Q42: “congenital stricture or stenosis of intestine (Q41-Q42)”
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
| K56Paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction without hernia | Q42Congenital absence, atresia and stenosis of large intestine | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Non-billable header |
| Classification | K00-K95 — Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95) | Q00-Q99 — Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities (Q00-Q99) |
| Definition | Paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction without hernia is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (K56). | Congenital absence, atresia and stenosis of large intestine is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (Q42). |
| Includes | — | congenital obstruction, occlusion and stricture of large intestine |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources