K74.00 ICD-10-CM Code: Hepatic fibrosis, unspecified

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for K74.00 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 K74.00 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for K74.00

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

Before you code K74.00

1. Unspecified does not mean incorrect. When the record gives no greater specificity, K74.00 may be the appropriate code. Check the record for detail that supports a more specific sibling. An unspecified code is for records that do not provide the detail a more specific code needs; a query, not an assumption, is the route to specificity (Guidelines I.A.9.b, I.B.18).

   ReviewK74.01, K74.02, K74.0A

   See the relationships section · Guide: Other vs unspecified (NEC vs NOS) →

2. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with K74.00. 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 record document the detail a more specific sibling code needs?
   Yes → Review the specific siblings in this subcategory.
   No → Continue — K74.00 is appropriate when the documentation goes no further.

   ReviewK74.01, K74.02, K74.0A

2. Does the documentation support a condition named in K74.00’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.

   ReviewK70.3, K70.2, K76.1, K71.7, P78.81, E83.110

3. Is the underlying (etiologic) condition the Code First note names documented?
   Yes → Sequence the underlying condition first, then K74.00.
   No → Continue; do not add an underlying condition the record does not document.

   ReviewK75.81

Consider K74.00. Then review the Code Also note, and 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).

The underlying (etiologic) condition

Named in the Code First note; sequenced before this code when documented (Guidelines I.A.13).

Any detail beyond this code’s title

What the record states that a more specific sibling code would capture — or its absence, which itself supports the unspecified code.

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes1 — check before selecting K74.00(7 notes)

  Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with K74.00: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

  CompareK70.3, K70.2, K76.1, K71.7, P78.81, E83.110

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

• Excludes2 — not part of K74.00(4 notes)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in K74.00. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareE83.11, G93.7, E83.01

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

• Code First — sequencing check(2 notes)

  Coding workflow: Check whether the underlying or etiologic condition the note names is documented. When it is, sequence it before K74.00. Do not add an underlying condition the record does not document.

  ReviewK75.81

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.13

• Code Also — related condition(1 note)

  Coding workflow: Review the related condition when both are documented and the instruction applies. A Code Also note does not fix sequencing; the order follows the circumstances of the encounter.

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.17

Coding decision scenarios

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

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.

Indexed Clinical Terms (1)

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.

• Fibrosis, fibrotic, liver

Official Coding Guidelines

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

Don’t confuse K74.00 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of K74.00 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• K70.3— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of alcoholic cirrhosis (of liver) moves the case to K70.3; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: K74.00 vs K70.3 →

• K70.2— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of alcoholic fibrosis of liver moves the case to K70.2; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: K74.00 vs K70.2 →

• K76.1— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of cardiac sclerosis of liver moves the case to K76.1; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: K74.00 vs K76.1 →

• K71.7— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of cirrhosis (of liver) with toxic liver disease moves the case to K71.7; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: K74.00 vs K71.7 →

• P78.81— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of congenital cirrhosis (of liver) moves the case to P78.81; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: K74.00 vs P78.81 →

• E83.110— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of pigmentary cirrhosis (of liver) moves the case to E83.110; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: K74.00 vs E83.110 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Decision Points

The directives on this code's own record, as a pre-claim checklist.

1. Sequencing: 2 Code First instructions — the underlying condition is sequenced before this code when present. See the Code First notes
2. 1 Code Also note — a second code may apply; the guidelines leave its sequencing to the circumstances of the encounter. See the Code Also notes
3. 7 Excludes1 entries — codes named there are generally not reported together with this code (Guidelines I.A.12.a). See the Excludes1 notes
4. 4 Excludes2 entries — those conditions are not part of this code and may be reported additionally when documented. See the Excludes2 notes

Checklist rows are derived from this code's own official directives; the wording of each check is MedCoder editorial. The official notes themselves are in the sections each row links to.

Verify Before Coding

• Principal-diagnosis restriction. The Medicare Code Editor lists this code as unacceptable as a principal diagnosis: it describes a circumstance influencing health status rather than a current illness or injury being treated. It is valid as a secondary diagnosis.

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 K74.00 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 Use Additional Code instruction: K75.81 — Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (via K74.0.-).

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 3 MS-DRGs: DRG 432 (MDC 07), DRG 433 (MDC 07), DRG 434 (MDC 07).

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

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):DIG019 — Other specified and unspecified liver disease (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

Principal diagnosis restriction (Medicare Code Editor)

Not acceptable as a principal diagnosis on an inpatient claim.

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Other specified and unspecified liver disease).

K70.30 — Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver without ascites, K70.31 — Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver with ascites, K70.9 — Alcoholic liver disease, unspecified, K71.0 — Toxic liver disease with cholestasis, K71.10 — Toxic liver disease with hepatic necrosis, without coma, K71.11 — Toxic liver disease with hepatic necrosis, with coma, K71.7 — Toxic liver disease with fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver, K71.8 — Toxic liver disease with other disorders of liver, K71.9 — Toxic liver disease, unspecified, K74.0 — Hepatic fibrosis, K74.01 — Hepatic fibrosis, early fibrosis, K74.02 — Hepatic fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, K74.1 — Hepatic sclerosis, K74.2 — Hepatic fibrosis with hepatic sclerosis, K74.3 — Primary biliary cirrhosis, K74.4 — Secondary biliary cirrhosis, K74.5 — Biliary cirrhosis, unspecified, K74.60 — Unspecified cirrhosis of liver, K74.69 — Other cirrhosis of liver, K75.1 — Phlebitis of portal vein, +33 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main term “Fibrosis, fibrotic”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

J84.10 — Pulmonary fibrosis, unspecified (lung), J84.112 — Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (lung, idiopathic), J84.114 — Acute interstitial pneumonitis (lung, diffuse, interstitial, acute), J94.1 — Fibrothorax (pleura), J98.59 — Other diseases of mediastinum, not elsewhere classified (mediastinum), K13.5 — Oral submucous fibrosis (submucous), K62.89 — Other specified diseases of anus and rectum (anal papillae), K65.4 — Sclerosing mesenteritis (sclerosing mesenteric), K68.2 — Retroperitoneal fibrosis (retroperitoneal), K70.2 — Alcoholic fibrosis and sclerosis of liver (liver, alcoholic), K76.6 — Portal hypertension (hepatolienal), K86.89 — Other specified diseases of pancreas (pancreas), L90.5 — Scar conditions and fibrosis of skin (skin), M79.4 — Hypertrophy of (infrapatellar) fat pad (popliteal fat pad), N13.5 — Crossing vessel and stricture of ureter without hydronephrosis (retroperitoneal, idiopathic), N13.6 — Pyonephrosis (retroperitoneal, with infection), N26.9 — Renal sclerosis, unspecified (kidney), N32.89 — Other specified disorders of bladder (bladder), N44.8 — Other noninflammatory disorders of the testis (testis), N48.6 — Induration penis plastica (penis NEC), +44 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.

Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) Test, Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Test, Hepatitis Testing, Iron Panel, Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) Test, Prothrombin Time Test and INR (PT/INR)

Contextual Map

Every relationship of K74.00 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 K74.00 with this related code in Claim Check

Hierarchy

• K00-K95 — Chapter 11: Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95) (K00-K95)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K70-K77 — Diseases of liver[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Use Additional Code instructions

• K75.81 — Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)[Use Additional Code](via K74.0.-): “code, if applicable, hepatic fibrosis (K74.0-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

• DIG019 — Other specified and unspecified liver disease[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)

MS-DRG Grouper

• DRG 432 — CIRRHOSIS AND ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH MCC[MS-DRG]: “CIRRHOSIS AND ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH MCC (MDC 07)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 433 — CIRRHOSIS AND ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH CC[MS-DRG]: “CIRRHOSIS AND ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH CC (MDC 07)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 434 — CIRRHOSIS AND ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITHOUT CC/MCC[MS-DRG]: “CIRRHOSIS AND ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 07)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026

MDC crossing

• MDC 07 — Diseases and Disorders of the Hepatobiliary System and Pancreas[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Hepatobiliary System and Pancreas — 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. 2,481 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries

• Fibrosis, fibrotic, liver[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (13)

• K74 — Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K74.0 — Hepatic fibrosis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K74.01 — Hepatic fibrosis, early fibrosis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K74.02 — Hepatic fibrosis, advanced fibrosis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K74.0A — Hepatic fibrosis, moderate fibrosis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K74.1 — Hepatic sclerosis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K74.2 — Hepatic fibrosis with hepatic sclerosis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K74.3 — Primary biliary cirrhosis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 5 more

Change history

• FY2021 — Added to the code set[Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2021

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

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

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to K74.00 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• K74 — Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
• K74.0 — Hepatic fibrosis
• K74.01 — Hepatic fibrosis, early fibrosis
• K74.02 — Hepatic fibrosis, advanced fibrosis
• K74.0A — Hepatic fibrosis, moderate fibrosis
• K74.1 — Hepatic sclerosis
• K74.2 — Hepatic fibrosis with hepatic sclerosis
• K74.3 — Primary biliary cirrhosis
• K74.4 — Secondary biliary cirrhosis
• K74.5 — Biliary cirrhosis, unspecified

View all codes in the K74 family