N16 — Renal tubulo-interstitial disorders in diseases classified elsewhere
N16 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code for renal tubulo-interstitial disorders in diseases classified elsewhere. 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.
- diphtheritic pyelonephritis and tubulo-interstitial nephritis (A36.84)
- pyelonephritis and tubulo-interstitial nephritis in candidiasis (B37.49)
- pyelonephritis and tubulo-interstitial nephritis in cystinosis (E72.04)
- pyelonephritis and tubulo-interstitial nephritis in salmonella infection (A02.25)
- pyelonephritis and tubulo-interstitial nephritis in sarcoidosis (D86.84)
- pyelonephritis and tubulo-interstitial nephritis in Sjogren syndrome (M35.04)
- pyelonephritis and tubulo-interstitial nephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus (M32.15)
- pyelonephritis and tubulo-interstitial nephritis in toxoplasmosis (B58.83)
- renal tubular degeneration in diabetes (E08-E13 with .29)
- syphilitic pyelonephritis and tubulo-interstitial nephritis (A52.75)
Code first
The underlying condition must be sequenced before this code.
Inclusion terms
Alternative wordings a physician may use in the chart for this same code.
- Pyelonephritis
- Tubulo-interstitial nephritis
Other codes that can never be billed with N16
These codes carry an Excludes1 note pointing at N16. The conflict binds both ways, but ICD-10-CM only writes it down on one side — so you would not find this by reading N16 alone.
- N08Glomerular disorders in diseases classified elsewhere
Risk adjustment
N16 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
N16 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.
- A55336Billing and Coding: Retroperitoneal Ultrasound
- A56380Billing and Coding: Rituximab
- A56421Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
- A57189Billing and Coding: Serum Magnesium
Questions about N16
- Is N16 a billable ICD-10-CM code?
- Yes. N16 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code and is valid for submission on a claim.
- Where does N16 sit in the tabular list?
- Diseases of the genitourinary system (N00-N99), in the block Renal tubulo-interstitial diseases (N10-N16).
- What cannot be coded together with N16?
- N16 carries an Excludes1 note, which means the conditions it lists can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.