Crohn’s Disease ICD-10: Complete Guide to Codes, Classification, & Clinical Use

For quick reference, here are the official ICD-10 codes for Crohn’s disease (also known as regional enteritis):

• K50.00 – Crohn’s disease of small intestine without complications
• K50.01 – Crohn’s disease of small intestine with complications
• K50.10 – Crohn’s disease of large intestine without complications
• K50.11 – Crohn’s disease of large intestine with complications
• K50.80 – Other Crohn’s disease without complications
• K50.81 – Other Crohn’s disease with complications
• K50.90 – Crohn’s disease, unspecified, without complications
• K50.91 – Crohn’s disease, unspecified, with complications

These codes fall under the K50 category in the ICD-10-CM system. Now let’s break down what they mean and how to use them correctly.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation of the digestive tract. It can affect any part of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus, but most commonly impacts the small intestine and/or colon.

Common symptoms include:

• Persistent diarrhea
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Rectal bleeding

Over time, Crohn’s can lead to complications such as strictures, fistulas, bowel obstructions, and malnutrition.

The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) is a system developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and used in the U.S. (via ICD-10-CM) to classify and code diagnoses, symptoms, and procedures.

Why ICD-10 codes matter:

• They’re essential for medical billing and insurance claims.
• They help track public health data and disease prevalence.
• Accurate coding supports better clinical decision-making.

Crohn’s disease falls under the K50 category in ICD-10-CM. The codes provide specific detail about the location of the disease and whether complications are present.

1. Crohn’s Disease of Small Intestine (K50.0)

• K50.00 – Without complications
• K50.01 – With complications (e.g., obstruction, abscess, fistula, bleeding)

2. Crohn’s Disease of Large Intestine (K50.1)

• K50.10 – Without complications
• K50.11 – With complications

3. Other Crohn’s Disease (K50.8)

This category is used when the disease affects parts of the digestive tract not clearly specified as just small or large intestine (e.g., stomach, esophagus, or both small and large intestines).

• K50.80 – Without complications
• K50.81 – With complications

4. Unspecified Crohn’s Disease (K50.9)

Used when documentation does not clearly identify the location of disease or presence of complications.

• K50.90 – Without complications
• K50.91 – With complications

Here are a few real-world examples to show how Crohn’s disease ICD-10 codes are applied:

• Patient with Crohn’s disease in the small intestine and a fistula:
  ✅ K50.01
• Patient with Crohn’s colitis (large intestine), no complications:
  ✅ K50.10
• Patient has Crohn’s affecting both small and large intestine, with abscess formation:
  ✅ K50.81
• Crohn’s disease not otherwise specified in documentation:
  ✅ K50.90 or K50.91, depending on whether complications exist

1. Always document disease location. If it’s in the small intestine, large intestine, or both, say so.

2. Note any complications. Fistulas, strictures, abscesses, and obstructions require “with complications” codes.

3.Avoid unspecified codes unless truly necessary.

4. Use secondary codes for specific complications and symptoms (e.g., iron deficiency anemia, malnutrition).

5.Ensure clinical documentation supports the code. Coders rely heavily on physician notes.

Before ICD-10, Crohn’s disease was classified under:

• ICD-9 Code 555.x series.

ICD-10 expanded the coding system for greater specificity, allowing better tracking of disease type and severity. For example, ICD-9 did not differentiate between complications and locations nearly as well as ICD-10 does.

Most modern EHR systems (like Epic, Cerner, or Athena) include ICD-10 code libraries and diagnostic lookup tools. Clinicians select codes during the visit, often with prompts or suggestions based on keywords entered.

Best practice tip: Work with your billing team or clinical documentation improvement (CDI) specialist to ensure the selected code reflects the full clinical picture.

• Medical necessity: Insurers use ICD-10 codes to determine if a test, treatment, or procedure is appropriate.
• Reimbursement: Accurate codes ensure providers are properly reimbursed.
• Denials: Incorrect or unspecified codes can lead to claim denials or delays in payment.

For example, submitting a colonoscopy with an unspecified code like K50.90 may lead to rejection unless symptoms or complications are also documented.

Understanding and using the correct Crohn’s disease ICD-10 code is essential for accurate documentation, effective treatment, proper billing, and quality patient care. Whether you're a medical coder, healthcare provider, or someone managing their own care, this guide can help you navigate the K50 category with confidence.

For more on Crohn’s disease, symptoms, treatment, and diagnosis, be sure to check out our other in-depth resources.

After over 10 years of trial and error, I finally found a combination of strategies that worked for me. I went from constant flare-ups to long-term remission, without biologics or surgery. I created GutMellow to share my experience and help others navigate their own healing journey.

The GutMellow Remission Roadmap includes everything I wish I had when I was first diagnosed. It’s a comprehensive resource that outlines the exact steps I took to regain control of my gut health, including:

This blog is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While I am sharing my personal experience, every individual’s health journey is unique. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or lifestyle. Healing is a personal journey, and what worked for me may not work for everyone.