Unspecified kidney failure
In Acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease (N17-N19), chapter 14: Diseases of the Genitourinary System
- N19 is an unspecified code: use it only when the record doesn't document anything more specific. If the record has more detail, check the other codes under N17-N19 below.
- As a secondary diagnosis it is not a CC or MCC, so it doesn't raise the MS-DRG payment.
- Doesn't count toward a Medicare Advantage risk score (no HCC in V28).
- AHRQ's Chronic Condition Indicator classes it as chronic: expected to last 12 months or longer and to limit daily life or need ongoing care.
- 4,665 US deaths in 2024 had an underlying cause in category N19, per the National Vital Statistics System on CDC WONDER. Death records use WHO ICD-10, so the count is for the whole category.
Also indexed as: Azotemia, meaning uremia; Failure, kidney; Failure, renal; Stasis, kidney; Stasis, renal; Uremia
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Instructional notes
Also applies, from Acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease (N17-N19)
These notes sit on N17-N19 and apply to every code under it, including N19.
Excludes2: not included here, code separately if applicable
- congenital renal failure (P96.0)
- drug- and heavy-metal-induced tubulo-interstitial and tubular conditions (N14.-)
- extrarenal uremia (R39.2)
- hemolytic-uremic syndrome (D59.3-)
- hepatorenal syndrome (K76.7)
- postpartum hepatorenal syndrome (O90.41)
- posttraumatic renal failure (T79.5)
- prerenal uremia (R39.2)
- renal failure complicating abortion or ectopic or molar pregnancy (O00-O07, O08.4)
- renal failure following labor and delivery (O90.41)
- renal failure postprocedural (N99.0)
Official coding guidelines
From the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2027 (CMS and NCHS). Links open the PDF at the right page.
Covers chronic kidney disease staging, CKD in kidney transplant patients, and sequencing CKD with related conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
- Chronic kidney disease (page 62)
Other codes under N17-N19
Acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease (N17-N19)
- N17Acute kidney failure
- N18Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- N19Unspecified kidney failure(this code)
N19 MS-DRGs
As the principal diagnosis, N19 groups to MS-DRG 673, 674, 675, 682, 683, or 684 (v44.0). Which one applies depends on procedures performed, secondary diagnoses (CC/MCC), and the patient's age and discharge status.
Related conditions
Grouped by AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR), which sorts every diagnosis code into clinically meaningful categories.
N19 is in Acute and unspecified renal failure (GEN002, its default category), with 11 codes. Others in it:
- K76.7 Hepatorenal syndrome
- K91.83 Postprocedural hepatorenal syndrome
- N17.0 Acute kidney failure with tubular necrosis
- N17.1 Acute kidney failure with acute cortical necrosis
- N17.2 Acute kidney failure with medullary necrosis
- N17.8 Other acute kidney failure
- N17.9 Acute kidney failure, unspecified
- N99.0 Postprocedural (acute) (chronic) kidney failure
Medicare coverage articles listing N19
These 8 Medicare billing and coding articles list N19 as a diagnosis that supports medical necessity for the services they cover. From the CMS Medicare Coverage Database; check your own contractor's article before billing.
Other codes that refer to N19
Notes on these codes point to N19.
About the condition
Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.
Kidney Failure
Healthy kidneys clean your blood by removing excess fluid, minerals, and wastes. They also make hormones that keep your bones strong and your blood healthy. But if the kidneys are damaged, they don't work properly. Harmful wastes can build up in your body. Your blood pressure may rise. Your body may retain excess fluid and not make enough red blood cells. This is called kidney failure.
Read more about kidney failure on MedlinePlusCode history
Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Legacy crosswalk from the CMS General Equivalence Mappings (last updated 2018).
- 586 Renal failure, unspecified