ICD-10-CM 2026 · Effective October 1, 2025

ICD-10 K92.1

Billable / Specific CC

Melena

K92
Block
0
Synonyms
978
LCDs
28
Payer Policies
7
Linked CPTs

About ICD-10-CM K92.1

ICD-10-CM code K92.1 represents Melena. This is a billable/specific code in the Digestive System chapter (block K92). The 2026 edition of ICD-10-CM K92.1 became effective on October 1, 2025.

Coding Tips for K92.1

Specialist guidance from the PayerReady Medical Coding Team. Specificity warnings, HCC capture rules, sequencing notes.

Inpatient DRG impact: CC

K92.1 is designated CC for MS-DRG grouping. On inpatient claims, this code can shift the DRG to the with-CC variant when documented as a present-on-admission secondary diagnosis. Hospital CDI programs flag CC opportunities during chart review. Failure to capture this code may leave 30 to 80 percent of the inpatient stay revenue unrealized.

Type 1 Excludes

Pure excludes, these codes can never be coded together with K92.1. The conditions are mutually exclusive (e.g., congenital vs acquired forms).

  • occult blood in feces (R19.5)

Inpatient DRG Impact, CC

codes Melena. As a Complication/Comorbidity (CC), this contributes to DRG severity adjustment when documented alongside the principal diagnosis.

Medicare LCD Coverage for K92.1

Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) from CMS MACs that list K92.1 as a covered diagnosis.

978 LCDs

Showing top 10 of 978 total . Click a CPT for full coverage scope.

CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74170 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74177 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74160 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74178 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74150 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 72194 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74176 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 72192 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 72193 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Colon Capsule Endoscopy (CCE)
Article ID: 58471, Effective: 2023-02-23 00:00:00, 6 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 91113 →

Commercial Payer Coverage

Coverage policies from major commercial payers referencing K92.1.

28 policies

5 Medicare

Billing and Coding: Diagnostic Colonoscopy
Policy ID: ART-55937
Billing and Coding: Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Visualization
Policy ID: ART-56389
Billing and Coding: Colonoscopy and Sigmoidoscopy-Diagnostic
Policy ID: ART-56394
Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Policy ID: ART-56421
Billing and Coding: Colonoscopy/Sigmoidoscopy/Proctosigmoidoscopy
Policy ID: ART-56456

CPT Codes Commonly Billed with K92.1

Procedures frequently paired with this diagnosis based on PayerReady's Dx↔Px linkage data.

7 linkages
  • 43235 Diagnostic EGD — abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, GERD, gastric ulcer, gastritis, hematemesis, melena, Barrett esophagus, dysphagia, esophagitis, weight loss, iron deficiency anemia, polyp Gastroenterology
  • 45378 Diagnostic colonoscopy — colorectal screening, family hx colon cancer, polyp, melena, iron def anemia, diverticulosis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn, occult blood, rectal polyp, weight loss, IBS Gastroenterology
  • 45380 Colonoscopy with biopsy — colon polyp, neoplasm of colon, melena, iron deficiency anemia, screening, personal hx polyps, UC, occult blood Gastroenterology
  • 45381 Colonoscopy with directed submucosal injection — polyp removal facilitation, same dx as polypectomy Gastroenterology
  • 85027 CBC automated — anemia, iron deficiency, fatigue, routine exam, abnormal labs, melena, hematemesis Laboratory
  • 99283 ED visit level 3 — chest pain, dyspnea, pneumonia, UTI, forearm fracture, tibia fracture, syncope, GI bleed Emergency Medicine
  • 91113 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Colon Capsule Endoscopy (CCE) CMS LCD

Convert K92.1 to ICD-9-CM

Per CMS General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.

ICD-10ICD-9Mapping Flags
K92.1 5781 00000

Flags format (5 digits): Approximate · No Map · Combination · Scenario · Choice List. Source: CMS 2017 GEMs (final version).

ICD-10 K92.1, Billing FAQ

Is ICD-10 code K92.1 billable? +

Yes, K92.1 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can appear as a primary or secondary diagnosis on claims.

What codes are Type 1 Excludes for K92.1? +

Type 1 Excludes (never code together with K92.1): occult blood in feces (R19.5)

Is K92.1 a CC or MCC for inpatient DRG? +

Yes, this code is designated as CC. Documenting as a secondary diagnosis on inpatient claims can shift the DRG to a higher-weighted category.

What CPT codes are commonly billed with K92.1? +

Procedures frequently paired with K92.1 include: 43235, 45378, 45380, 45381, 85027.

What ICD-9 codes does K92.1 map to? +

Per CMS GEMs, K92.1 maps to ICD-9 codes: 5781. Useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.

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Reviewed by the PayerReady Medical Coding Team

Verified against the CMS 2026 code set on May 31, 2026.

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