What is the ICD-10 code for acute renal failure?

The ICD-10 code for acute renal failure is N17.9 when unspecified. For specific types, use N17.0 for acute tubular necrosis and N17.2 for medullary necrosis.

How is acute kidney injury documented?

Document acute kidney injury with specific lab values, such as a rise in serum creatinine by ≥0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours, and clinical signs like oliguria.

What are the documentation requirements for AKI?

Documentation must include exact terminology, specific lab values, and clinical indicators to support the diagnosis of acute kidney injury.

ICD-10 Coding for Acute Renal Failure(N17.0, E86.0, N17.2)

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Comprehensive guide to ICD-10 coding for acute renal failure, including documentation requirements, code relationships, and clinical validation criteria.

Also known as:

Acute Kidney InjuryARFAKI

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Acute Renal Failure

N00-N99Primary Range

Diseases of the genitourinary system

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Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

Code	Description	When to Use	Key Documentation
N17.0	Acute kidney failure with tubular necrosis	Use when acute tubular necrosis is documented with supporting lab findings.	Presence of granular casts in urine Rise in serum creatinine from baseline
N17.2	Acute kidney failure with medullary necrosis	Use when medullary necrosis is documented with supporting imaging findings.	Imaging findings supporting medullary necrosis Rise in serum creatinine from baseline
N17.9	Acute kidney failure, unspecified	Use when acute kidney failure is documented without further specification.	Rise in serum creatinine by ≥0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours Oliguria <0.5 mL/kg/hour for at least six hours

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes

Acute kidney failure with tubular necrosis

N17.0Billable

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions

Acute kidney failure, unspecifiedN17.9

Acute kidney failure with tubular necrosisN17.0

Acute kidney failure with medullary necrosisN17.2

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common issues when documenting Acute Renal Failure.

Using non-specific language

Impact

Clinical: May lead to misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment., Regulatory: Increases risk of audit and non-compliance., Financial: Potential for reduced reimbursement.

Mitigation

Ensure documentation includes specific lab values and clinical indicators, Use precise medical terminology

Vague Terminology

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect coding may lead to lower reimbursement., Compliance: Non-specific documentation can trigger audits., Data Quality: Impacts accuracy of patient records.

Mitigation

Query physicians to specify if 'renal failure' is acute or chronic.

Insufficient Lab Data

Impact

Reimbursement: May result in claim denials., Compliance: Fails to meet coding guidelines., Data Quality: Reduces reliability of clinical data.

Mitigation

Ensure documentation includes specific lab comparisons.

Documentation specificity

Impact

Lack of specific documentation can trigger audits.

Mitigation

Ensure documentation includes specific lab values and clinical indicators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements, coding pitfalls and FAQs for conditions coded with N17.0.

Primary Code

N17.0

Acute kidney failure with tubular necrosis

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ICD-10 Coding for Acute Renal Failure(N17.0, E86.0, N17.2)

Documentation & Coding Risks

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ICD-10 code for acute renal failure?

How is acute kidney injury documented?

What are the documentation requirements for AKI?

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