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K56.41 ICD-10-CM Code: Fecal impaction

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Coding at a Glance

Tabular directives
7 Excludes1 · 2 Excludes2
Risk adjustment
CMS-HCC V28: 1 category · CMS-HCC V22 category 33

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 388 — GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH MCC (MDC 06)
  • MS-DRG 389 — GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITH CC (MDC 06)
  • MS-DRG 390 — GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 06)
  • MS-DRG 791 — PREMATURITY WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS (MDC 15)
  • MS-DRG 793 — FULL TERM NEONATE WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS (MDC 15)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Risk Adjustment (CMS-HCC)

Payment categories this diagnosis maps to under CMS-HCC V28, payment year 2026.

  • HCC 78 — Intestinal Obstruction/Perforation

Other models: CMS-HCC V22 HCC 33

Risk scores depend on the enrollee's full accepted diagnosis set and segment; a category mapping alone does not determine payment.

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for K56.41 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Notes without a marker are published on K56.41 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Source: inherited from K56

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

Coder workflow for K56.41

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code K56.41

  1. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with K56.41. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

    See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

  1. Does the documentation support a condition named in K56.41’s Excludes1 note?
    Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
    No → Continue.

    ReviewE84.11, K55.1, P76.0, P76, K31.5, K91.3

Consider K56.41. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement
Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Official instructions as workflow

  • Excludes1 — check before selecting K56.41(7 notes)

    Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with K56.41: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

    CompareE84.11, K55.1, P76.0, P76, K31.5, K91.3

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

  • Excludes2 — not part of K56.41(2 notes)

    Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in K56.41. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

    CompareR15.0, K62.4

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Documentation: Both the condition K56.41 describes and a condition named in its Excludes1 note are documented for the same encounter.

Coding question: Can both codes be reported?

Path: Review the Excludes1 note and the excluded code, and look for a provider statement on whether the two conditions are related.

Reason: Excludes1 means the two are not coded together; the exception is when the record shows the conditions are unrelated to each other (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

ReviewE84.11, K55.1, P76.0, P76, K31.5, K91.3

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Code Overview

Fecal impaction is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (K56.41).

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Indexed Clinical Terms (4)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

Official Coding Guidelines

No excerpt in the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines names this code specifically. Its chapter carries only this chapter-wide note:

Chapter 11: Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95)

Reserved for future guideline expansion

Verify Before Coding

  • No Medicare Code Editor or MS-DRG Definitions Manual restrictions apply to this code.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name K56.41 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 1 Excludes1 note: K59.0 — Constipation.

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 12 Excludes2 notes: R10 — Abdominal and pelvic pain (via K56.-), R10-R19 — Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen (R10-R19) (via K56.-), R11 — Nausea and vomiting (via K56.-), R12 — Heartburn (via K56.-), R13 — Aphagia and dysphagia (via K56.-), R14 — Flatulence and related conditions (via K56.-), R15 — Fecal incontinence (via K56.-), R15.0 — Incomplete defecation, R16 — Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, not elsewhere classified (via K56.-), R17 — Unspecified jaundice (via K56.-), R18 — Ascites (via K56.-), R19 — Other symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen (via K56.-).

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

Referenced by 1 Use Additional Code instruction: G90.4 — Autonomic dysreflexia.

These codes instruct coders to additionally report this code when it applies.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2026 MS-DRG: not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity for that release.

Named in the grouper logic of 5 MS-DRGs: DRG 388 (MDC 06), DRG 389 (MDC 06), DRG 390 (MDC 06), DRG 791 (MDC 15), DRG 793 (MDC 15).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):DIG012 — Intestinal obstruction and ileus (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same CMS-HCC risk category (V28)

CMS maps these diagnoses to the same Hierarchical Condition Category (Intestinal Obstruction/Perforation) for risk-adjusted payment.

K51.212 — Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with intestinal obstruction, K51.312 — Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with intestinal obstruction, K51.412 — Inflammatory polyps of colon with intestinal obstruction, K51.512 — Left sided colitis with intestinal obstruction, K51.812 — Other ulcerative colitis with intestinal obstruction, K51.912 — Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with intestinal obstruction, K56.0 — Paralytic ileus, K56.1 — Intussusception, K56.2 — Volvulus, K56.3 — Gallstone ileus, K56.49 — Other impaction of intestine, K56.50 — Intestinal adhesions [bands], unspecified as to partial versus complete obstruction, K56.51 — Intestinal adhesions [bands], with partial obstruction, K56.52 — Intestinal adhesions [bands] with complete obstruction, K56.600 — Partial intestinal obstruction, unspecified as to cause, K56.601 — Complete intestinal obstruction, unspecified as to cause, K56.609 — Unspecified intestinal obstruction, unspecified as to partial versus complete obstruction, K56.690 — Other partial intestinal obstruction, K56.691 — Other complete intestinal obstruction, K56.699 — Other intestinal obstruction unspecified as to partial versus complete obstruction, +55 more

Related risk categories

These categories interact through CMS's HCC hierarchy — one can suppress the other's risk-adjustment weight when both are present on a claim.

Intestine Transplant Status/Complications

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Intestinal obstruction and ileus).

K51.212 — Ulcerative (chronic) proctitis with intestinal obstruction, K51.312 — Ulcerative (chronic) rectosigmoiditis with intestinal obstruction, K51.412 — Inflammatory polyps of colon with intestinal obstruction, K51.512 — Left sided colitis with intestinal obstruction, K51.812 — Other ulcerative colitis with intestinal obstruction, K51.912 — Ulcerative colitis, unspecified with intestinal obstruction, K56.0 — Paralytic ileus, K56.1 — Intussusception, K56.2 — Volvulus, K56.3 — Gallstone ileus, K56.49 — Other impaction of intestine, K56.5 — Intestinal adhesions [bands] with obstruction (postinfection), K56.50 — Intestinal adhesions [bands], unspecified as to partial versus complete obstruction, K56.51 — Intestinal adhesions [bands], with partial obstruction, K56.52 — Intestinal adhesions [bands] with complete obstruction, K56.60 — Unspecified intestinal obstruction, K56.600 — Partial intestinal obstruction, unspecified as to cause, K56.601 — Complete intestinal obstruction, unspecified as to cause, K56.609 — Unspecified intestinal obstruction, unspecified as to partial versus complete obstruction, K56.69 — Other intestinal obstruction, +29 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main terms “Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive”, “Fecalith”, “Impaction, impacted”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

K01.1 — Impacted teeth (dental), K11.5 — Sialolithiasis (salivary duct, with calculus), K11.8 — Other diseases of salivary glands (salivary duct), K22.2 — Esophageal obstruction (cardia), K31.0 — Acute dilatation of stomach (stomach NEC, acute), K31.1 — Adult hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (gastric outlet), K31.3 — Pylorospasm, not elsewhere classified (stomach NEC, due to pylorospasm), K31.5 — Obstruction of duodenum (duodenum), K31.89 — Other diseases of stomach and duodenum (stomach NEC), K38.1 — Appendicular concretions (appendix), K62.4 — Stenosis of anus and rectum (rectum), K76.89 — Other specified diseases of liver (hepatic), K80.21 — Calculus of gallbladder without cholecystitis with obstruction (cystic duct, with calculus), K80.51 — Calculus of bile duct without cholangitis or cholecystitis with obstruction (bile duct or passage, with calculus), K82.0 — Obstruction of gallbladder (gallbladder), K83.1 — Obstruction of bile duct (biliary), K86.89 — Other specified diseases of pancreas (pancreatic duct), K90.2 — Blind loop syndrome, not elsewhere classified (lacteal, with steatorrhea), K91.30 — Postprocedural intestinal obstruction, unspecified as to partial versus complete (intestine, postoperative), K91.31 — Postprocedural partial intestinal obstruction (intestine, postoperative, partial), +93 more

Lab tests where this diagnosis supports Medicare coverage (NCD)

Medicare's National Coverage Determination (NCD) program lists this diagnosis as medical justification for these lab tests.

Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Test

Contextual Map

Every relationship of K56.41 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run K56.41 with these 10 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Excludes2

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

  • K59.0 — Constipation[Excludes1]: “fecal impaction (K56.41)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes2 notes (12)

Referenced by Use Additional Code instructions

Clinical classification (CCSR)

Risk adjustment (CMS-HCC)

  • HCC 78 — Intestinal Obstruction/Perforation [CMS-HCC]— CMS-HCC V28 · 2026

MS-DRG Grouper

MDC crossing

  • MDC 06 — Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 5,744 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026
  • MDC 15 — Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period[MDC crossing]: “Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries

  • Fecalith (impaction)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Impaction, impacted, fecal, feces[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive, fecal[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Stercolith (impaction)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (21)

Change history

  • FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data
CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Coding guidelines Official source data
ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (FY2026), quoted by section Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Claim edits Official source data
CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Inpatient payment groups Official source data
CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v43 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Risk adjustment Official source data
2026 Mid-Year Final ICD-10 Mappings + Model Software (cms.gov/files/zip/2026-midyear-final-icd-10-mappings.zip, 2026-midyear-final-model-software.zip) — CMS-HCC V28, PY2026 mid-year final release Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data
CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship
Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears
Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation
Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Fecal impaction

No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026), and none are recorded for this code. Note changes are tracked from FY2027 only.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to K56.41 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the K56 family