Is K31.5 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

Yes. K31.5 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code and is valid for submission on a claim.

Where does K31.5 sit in the tabular list?

Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K95), in the block Diseases of esophagus, stomach and duodenum (K20-K31).

What cannot be coded together with K31.5?

K31.5 carries an Excludes1 note, which means the conditions it lists can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.

K31.5

K31.5 — Obstruction of duodenum

Billable / specific codeICD-10-CM

K31.5 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code for obstruction of duodenum. It is valid for submission on a claim.

Excludes1 — never code together

These conditions cannot occur together. Billing both on the same encounter is a denial.

congenital stenosis of duodenum (Q41.0)

Inclusion terms

Alternative wordings a physician may use in the chart for this same code.

Constriction of duodenum
Duodenal ileus (chronic)
Stenosis of duodenum
Stricture of duodenum
Volvulus of duodenum

Other codes that can never be billed with K31.5

These codes carry an Excludes1 note pointing at K31.5. The conflict binds both ways, but ICD-10-CM only writes it down on one side — so you would not find this by reading K31.5 alone.

K56Paralytic ileus and intestinal obstruction without hernia

Risk adjustment

K31.5 does not map to an HCC and does not risk-adjust under CMS-HCC V28. That is normal — most ICD-10 codes do not. It still needs to be coded correctly; it just will not move a RAF score.

Medicare coverage

K31.5 is named in 4 Medicare coverage policies — 4 listing it as supporting medical necessity. Which of them applies to you depends on your Medicare contractor, and coverage genuinely differs by state.

A56389Billing and Coding: Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Visualization
A56421Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
A57063Billing and Coding: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
A57414Billing and Coding: Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (Diagnostic and Therapeutic)

How K31.5 is indexed

Coders do not find codes by browsing the tabular list — they look them up in the alphabetic index, under the word the physician wrote. These are the index entries that lead here, so you can see which chart wordings map to K31.5.

Cicatrix›duodenum, obstructive(bulb)
Constriction›duodenum
Ileus›duodenal(chronic)
Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive›duodenum
Scar, scarring›duodenum, obstructive
Stasis›duodenal
Stenosis, stenotic›duodenum
Stricture›duodenum
Syndrome›aortomesenteric duodenum occlusion
Volvulus›duodenum

Related codes at this level

Codes that share K31. If K31.5 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.

Questions about K31.5

Is K31.5 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: Yes. K31.5 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code and is valid for submission on a claim.
Where does K31.5 sit in the tabular list?: Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K95), in the block Diseases of esophagus, stomach and duodenum (K20-K31).
What cannot be coded together with K31.5?: K31.5 carries an Excludes1 note, which means the conditions it lists can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.