R17 ICD-10-CM Code: Unspecified jaundice

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for R17 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 R17 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for R17

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

Before you code R17

1. Check whether an established diagnosis that explains this sign or symptom is documented. If one is, review whether the documented diagnosis changes the coding pathway: a symptom that is integral to a confirmed diagnosis is not reported separately, while one not routinely associated with it may be. Signs and symptoms are reported when no definitive diagnosis is established (Guidelines I.B.4, I.B.5, I.B.6, I.C.18.b).

   Guide: Symptom code vs confirmed diagnosis →

2. Unspecified does not mean incorrect. When the record gives no greater specificity, R17 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).

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

3. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with R17. 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. Is an established diagnosis that explains this sign or symptom documented?
   Yes → Review whether the documented diagnosis changes the coding pathway: a symptom integral to it is not reported separately.
   No → Continue — the sign or symptom code stands when no definitive diagnosis is established.
2. Does the record document the detail a more specific sibling code needs?
   Yes → Review the specific siblings in this subcategory.
   No → Continue — R17 is appropriate when the documentation goes no further.
3. Does the documentation support a condition named in R17’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.

   ReviewP55

Consider R17. 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).

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 R17(1 note)

  Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with R17: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

  CompareP55

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

• Excludes2 — not part of R17(9 notes)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in R17. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareQ40.0, K56, P76, K31.3, N94

  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

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 (5)

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.

• Elevated, elevation, liver function, test, bilirubin
• Icterus, conjunctiva
• Jaundice (yellow)
• Jaundice (yellow), cholestatic (benign)
• Jaundice (yellow), symptomatic

Don’t confuse R17 with…

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

The codes most likely to be picked instead of R17 — 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.

• P55— 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 neonatal jaundice moves the case to P55; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: R17 vs P55 →

• P57— 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 neonatal jaundice moves the case to P57; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: R17 vs P57 →

• P59— 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 neonatal jaundice moves the case to P59; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: R17 vs P59 →

• Q40.0— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of congenital or infantile pylorospasm adds Q40.0; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: R17 vs Q40.0 →

• K92.0— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of gastrointestinal hemorrhage adds K92.0; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: R17 vs K92.0 →

• K92.2— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of gastrointestinal hemorrhage adds K92.2; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: R17 vs K92.2 →

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.

Verify Before Coding

• CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

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 R17 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 9 Excludes1 notes: K70 — Alcoholic liver disease, K70-K77 — Diseases of liver (K70-K77), K71 — Toxic liver disease, K72 — Hepatic failure, not elsewhere classified, K73 — Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified, K74 — Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver, K75 — Other inflammatory liver diseases, K76 — Other diseases of liver, K77 — Liver disorders in diseases classified elsewhere.

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

Referenced by 1 Use Additional Code instruction: D89.81 — Graft-versus-host disease.

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: CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 21 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 3 MS-DRGs: DRG 441 (MDC 07), DRG 442 (MDC 07), DRG 443 (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):SYM006 — Abdominal pain and other digestive/abdomen signs and symptoms (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 clinical process (MS-DRG)

Acts as CC — raises the severity of other admissions. CMS groups these diagnoses into one MS-DRG principal-diagnosis exclusion process — a CC/MCC on this list never raises severity when the principal diagnosis is also on it.

P57.8 — Other specified kernicterus, P57.9 — Kernicterus, unspecified, P58.0 — Neonatal jaundice due to bruising, P58.1 — Neonatal jaundice due to bleeding, P58.2 — Neonatal jaundice due to infection, P58.3 — Neonatal jaundice due to polycythemia, P58.41 — Neonatal jaundice due to drugs or toxins transmitted from mother, P58.42 — Neonatal jaundice due to drugs or toxins given to newborn, P58.5 — Neonatal jaundice due to swallowed maternal blood, P58.8 — Neonatal jaundice due to other specified excessive hemolysis, P58.9 — Neonatal jaundice due to excessive hemolysis, unspecified, P59.0 — Neonatal jaundice associated with preterm delivery, P59.1 — Inspissated bile syndrome, P59.20 — Neonatal jaundice from unspecified hepatocellular damage, P59.29 — Neonatal jaundice from other hepatocellular damage, P59.3 — Neonatal jaundice from breast milk inhibitor, P59.8 — Neonatal jaundice from other specified causes, P59.9 — Neonatal jaundice, unspecified, R23.8 — Other skin changes, R23.9 — Unspecified skin changes

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Abdominal pain and other digestive/abdomen signs and symptoms).

R14.1 — Gas pain, R14.2 — Eructation, R14.3 — Flatulence, R15.0 — Incomplete defecation, R15.1 — Fecal smearing, R15.2 — Fecal urgency, R15.9 — Full incontinence of feces, R16.0 — Hepatomegaly, not elsewhere classified, R16.1 — Splenomegaly, not elsewhere classified, R16.2 — Hepatomegaly with splenomegaly, not elsewhere classified, R18.0 — Malignant ascites, R18.8 — Other ascites, R19.00 — Intra-abdominal and pelvic swelling, mass and lump, unspecified site, R19.01 — Right upper quadrant abdominal swelling, mass and lump, R19.02 — Left upper quadrant abdominal swelling, mass and lump, R19.03 — Right lower quadrant abdominal swelling, mass and lump, R19.04 — Left lower quadrant abdominal swelling, mass and lump, R19.05 — Periumbilic swelling, mass or lump, R19.06 — Epigastric swelling, mass or lump, R19.07 — Generalized intra-abdominal and pelvic swelling, mass and lump, +58 more

Same Index main term, other category

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

P59.0 — Neonatal jaundice associated with preterm delivery (due to or associated with, preterm delivery), P59.1 — Inspissated bile syndrome (newborn, due to or associated with, inspissated bile syndrome), P59.20 — Neonatal jaundice from unspecified hepatocellular damage (newborn, due to or associated with, hepatocellular damage), P59.29 — Neonatal jaundice from other hepatocellular damage (newborn, due to or associated with, hepatocellular damage, specified NEC), P59.3 — Neonatal jaundice from breast milk inhibitor (breast-milk), P59.8 — Neonatal jaundice from other specified causes (due to or associated with, delayed conjugation), P59.9 — Neonatal jaundice, unspecified (newborn), Q74.0 — Other congenital malformations of upper limb(s), including shoulder girdle (scapula, congenital), Q79.1 — Other congenital malformations of diaphragm (diaphragm, congenital), R03.0 — Elevated blood-pressure reading, without diagnosis of hypertension (blood pressure, reading, no diagnosis of hypertension), R50.9 — Fever, unspecified (body temperature), R70.0 — Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sedimentation rate), R73.01 — Impaired fasting glucose (fasting glucose), R73.02 — Impaired glucose tolerance (oral) (glucose tolerance), R73.9 — Hyperglycemia, unspecified (blood sugar), R74.01 — Elevation of levels of liver transaminase levels (ALT), R74.02 — Elevation of levels of lactic acid dehydrogenase [LDH] (lactic acid dehydrogenaselevel), R74.8 — Abnormal levels of other serum enzymes (liver function, test, hepatic enzyme), R76.0 — Raised antibody titer (antibody titer), R76.89 — Other specified abnormal immunological findings in serum (immunoglobulin level), +47 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.

Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Test, Hepatitis Testing, Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) Test, Prothrombin Time Test and INR (PT/INR)

Contextual Map

Every relationship of R17 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 R17 with these 21 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

• R00-R99 — Chapter 18: Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings, Not Elsewhere Classified (R00-R99) (R00-R99)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• R10-R19 — Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Excludes1

• P55 — Hemolytic disease of newborn[Excludes1]: “neonatal jaundice (P55, P57-P59)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• P57 — Kernicterus[Excludes1]: “neonatal jaundice (P55, P57-P59)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• P58 — Neonatal jaundice due to other excessive hemolysis[Excludes1]: “neonatal jaundice (P55, P57-P59)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• P59 — Neonatal jaundice from other and unspecified causes[Excludes1]: “neonatal jaundice (P55, P57-P59)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Excludes2 (24)

• K31.3 — Pylorospasm, not elsewhere classified[Excludes2]: “pylorospasm (K31.3)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• K56 — Paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction without hernia[Excludes2]: “intestinal obstruction (K56.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• K92.0 — Hematemesis[Excludes2]: “gastrointestinal hemorrhage (K92.0-K92.2)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• K92.1 — Melena[Excludes2]: “gastrointestinal hemorrhage (K92.0-K92.2)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• K92.2 — Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, unspecified[Excludes2]: “gastrointestinal hemorrhage (K92.0-K92.2)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• N48 — Other disorders of penis[Excludes2]: “symptoms referable to male genital organs (N48-N50)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• N49 — Inflammatory disorders of male genital organs, not elsewhere classified[Excludes2]: “symptoms referable to male genital organs (N48-N50)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• N50 — Other and unspecified disorders of male genital organs[Excludes2]: “symptoms referable to male genital organs (N48-N50)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 16 more

Referenced by Excludes1 notes (9)

• K70 — Alcoholic liver disease[Excludes1]: “jaundice NOS (R17)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• K70-K77 — Diseases of liver (K70-K77)[Excludes1]: “jaundice NOS (R17)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• K71 — Toxic liver disease[Excludes1]: “jaundice NOS (R17)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• K72 — Hepatic failure, not elsewhere classified[Excludes1]: “jaundice NOS (R17)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• K73 — Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified[Excludes1]: “jaundice NOS (R17)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• K74 — Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver[Excludes1]: “jaundice NOS (R17)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• K75 — Other inflammatory liver diseases[Excludes1]: “jaundice NOS (R17)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• K76 — Other diseases of liver[Excludes1]: “jaundice NOS (R17)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 1 more

Referenced by Use Additional Code instructions

• D89.81 — Graft-versus-host disease[Use Additional Code]: “elevated bilirubin (R17)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

• SYM006 — Abdominal pain and other digestive/abdomen signs and symptoms[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)

MS-DRG Grouper

• CC — Complication or Comorbidity [MS-DRG severity]: “As a secondary diagnosis this code can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier (CC).”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix C) · FY2026
• DRG 441 — DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH MCC[MS-DRG]: “DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH MCC (MDC 07)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 442 — DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH CC[MS-DRG]: “DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITH CC (MDC 07)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 443 — DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS WITHOUT CC/MCC[MS-DRG]: “DISORDERS OF LIVER EXCEPT MALIGNANCY, CIRRHOSIS OR 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

• Elevated, elevation, liver function, test, bilirubin[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Icterus, conjunctiva[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Jaundice (yellow)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Jaundice (yellow), cholestatic (benign)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Jaundice (yellow), symptomatic[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026

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

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