K92.1 vs R19.5
K92.1 (Melena) compared with R19.5 (Other fecal abnormalities), 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. K92.1 carries an Excludes1 note covering R19.5: “occult blood in feces (R19.5)”
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. R19.5 carries an Excludes1 note covering K92.1: “melena (K92.1)”
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
| K92.1Melena | R19.5Other fecal abnormalities | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Billable |
| Classification | K00-K95 — Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95) | R00-R99 — Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings, Not Elsewhere Classified (R00-R99) |
| Definition | Melena is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (K92.1). | Other fecal abnormalities is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (R19.5). |
| Includes | — | Abnormal stool color Bulky stools Mucus in stools Occult blood in feces |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources