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N19 vs N28.9

N19 (Unspecified kidney failure) compared with N28.9 (Disorder of kidney and ureter, unspecified), 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. N19 carries an Excludes1 note covering N28.9: “renal insufficiency (acute) (N28.9)”

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

N19Unspecified kidney failureN28.9Disorder of kidney and ureter, unspecified
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationN00-N99 — Diseases of the Genitourinary System (N00-N99)N00-N99 — Diseases of the Genitourinary System (N00-N99)
DefinitionUnspecified kidney failure is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (N19).Disorder of kidney and ureter, unspecified is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (N28.9).
Includes
Uremia NOS
Nephropathy NOS
Renal disease (acute) NOS
Renal insufficiency (acute)

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources