R19.5 vs R85
R19.5 (Other fecal abnormalities) compared with R85 (Abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity), 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. R85 carries an Excludes1 note covering R19.5: “fecal abnormalities (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).
Side by side
| R19.5Other fecal abnormalities | R85Abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Non-billable header |
| Classification | R00-R99 — Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings, Not Elsewhere Classified (R00-R99) | R00-R99 — Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings, Not Elsewhere Classified (R00-R99) |
| Definition | Other fecal abnormalities is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (R19.5). | Abnormal findings in specimens from digestive organs and abdominal cavity is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (R85). |
| Includes | Abnormal stool color Bulky stools Mucus in stools Occult blood in feces | abnormal findings in peritoneal fluid abnormal findings in saliva |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources