2025 ICD-10-CM code K73.8
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Diseases of the liver - Other chronic hepatitis Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K95) Feed
Other chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified. This code represents a chronic inflammatory condition of the liver that doesn't fall under specific categories like alcoholic, drug-induced, or viral hepatitis.
Medical necessity must be established by demonstrating the presence of chronic hepatitis through clinical findings, laboratory results, and imaging studies, along with the exclusion of other specific types of chronic hepatitis. The documentation should clearly indicate the need for continued monitoring and management of the patient’s liver disease.
The clinician is responsible for diagnosing the specific type of chronic hepatitis and ruling out other causes, performing appropriate diagnostic testing, and developing a treatment plan to manage the patient's condition.
In simple words: This code refers to a long-term inflammation of the liver that is not caused by alcohol, drugs, or a virus, and does not fit into other more specific types of chronic hepatitis.
Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified. Conditions excluded from this code are: alcoholic hepatitis (chronic) (K70.1-), drug-induced hepatitis (chronic) (K71.-), granulomatous hepatitis (chronic) NEC (K75.3), reactive, nonspecific hepatitis (chronic) (K75.2), and viral hepatitis (chronic) (B15-B19).
Example 1: A patient presents with persistent elevated liver enzymes and fatigue. After extensive testing, including viral hepatitis panels, autoimmune markers, and imaging, no specific cause is identified, leading to a diagnosis of other chronic hepatitis., A patient with a history of liver disease, but without a clear etiology, undergoes a liver biopsy, which shows chronic inflammation and fibrosis. In the absence of other identifiable causes, a diagnosis of K73.8 is made., A patient with long-term abnormal liver function tests, but no history of alcohol abuse, drug use, or viral hepatitis, is diagnosed with other chronic hepatitis after other potential causes are excluded.
Documentation should include all relevant diagnostic tests (liver function tests, viral hepatitis panels, autoimmune markers, imaging studies, biopsy results if performed), clinical findings, and the rationale for excluding other specific types of chronic hepatitis. It's also important to document the severity and stage of liver disease.
- Specialties:Hepatology, gastroenterology, internal medicine
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, On Campus-Outpatient Hospital, Off Campus-Outpatient Hospital, Office, Independent Clinic, Federally Qualified Health Center