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

ICD-10 N18.9

Billable / Specific

Chronic kidney disease, unspecified

N18
Block
5
Synonyms
126
LCDs
19
Payer Policies
1
Linked CPTs

About ICD-10-CM N18.9

ICD-10-CM code N18.9 represents Chronic kidney disease, unspecified. This is a billable/specific code in the Genitourinary System chapter (block N18). The 2026 edition of ICD-10-CM N18.9 became effective on October 1, 2025.

Coding Tips for N18.9

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

Specificity warning

CKD unspecified. Use the specific stage (N18.1 through N18.6) when documented. CKD stages 4 and 5 are HCC v28 captures worth significant RAF.

Inclusion Terms / Approximate Synonyms

Clinical terms and conditions classified under N18.9. Per CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular 2026.

  • Chronic renal disease
  • Chronic renal failure NOS
  • Chronic renal insufficiency
  • Chronic uremia NOS
  • Diffuse sclerosing glomerulonephritis NOS

Medicare Advantage HCC Impact

ESRD-HCC
Category 139

Capture this diagnosis annually for accurate risk adjustment. Missed HCC captures are the #1 revenue leak in Medicare Advantage risk programs.

Medicare LCD Coverage for N18.9

Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) from CMS MACs that list N18.9 as a covered diagnosis.

126 LCDs

Showing top 10 of 126 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: Magnesium
Article ID: 59186, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 4358 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 83735 →

Commercial Payer Coverage

Coverage policies from major commercial payers referencing N18.9.

19 policies

1 Cigna

Vitamin D Testing - (0526) ---- future effective policy
Policy ID: MM_0526

5 Medicare

Billing and Coding: Routine Foot Care
Policy ID: ART-52996
Billing and Coding: Retroperitoneal Ultrasound
Policy ID: ART-55336
Billing and Coding: Foot Care
Policy ID: ART-56232
Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Policy ID: ART-56421
Billing and Coding: Routine Foot Care
Policy ID: ART-56680

5 Aetna

Growth Hormone (GH) and Growth Hormone Antagonists
Policy ID: CPB-0170
Foot Orthotics
Policy ID: CPB-0451
Tuberculosis Testing
Policy ID: CPB-0471
Thrombectomy Systems
Policy ID: CPB-0568
Intravenous Iron Therapy
Policy ID: CPB-0575

CPT Codes Commonly Billed with N18.9

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

1 linkages
  • 80053 Comprehensive metabolic panel — diabetes, HTN, CKD, hyperlipidemia, electrolyte disorders, anemia, thyroid, prediabetes, abnormal labs, routine exam, screening Laboratory

Convert N18.9 to ICD-9-CM

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

ICD-10ICD-9Mapping Flags
N18.9 5859 00000

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

ICD-10 N18.9, Billing FAQ

Is ICD-10 code N18.9 billable? +

Yes, N18.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can appear as a primary or secondary diagnosis on claims.

What other names or terms map to N18.9? +

ICD-10 N18.9 includes: Chronic renal disease; Chronic renal failure NOS; Chronic renal insufficiency, and 2 more clinical synonyms.

What CPT codes are commonly billed with N18.9? +

Procedures frequently paired with N18.9 include: 80053.

What ICD-9 codes does N18.9 map to? +

Per CMS GEMs, N18.9 maps to ICD-9 codes: 5859. 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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