Skip to content
HCC Buddy home

K51.514 ICD-10-CM Code: Left sided colitis with abscess

K51.514 maps to CMS-HCC V28 81. A source-labeled RAF reference is available. Confirm the documented diagnosis and applicable coding requirements. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · free HCC coding tools

ICD-10-CM Code View

HCC Buddy Code Card

Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.

Code lookupK51.514

FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K95) / Noninfective enteritis and colitis (K50-K52)

K51.514

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Left sided colitis with abscess

Inflammation of the left side of the colon with a localized collection of pus (abscess) in the surrounding tissues.

Buddy the Bee presenting code insight

Buddy Insight

Left-sided ulcerative colitis with abscess indicates a localized collection of pus complicating left colonic inflammation.

OverviewRisk ModelsCode BookDocumentationAuditNotesEdition comparison

CMS-HCC V28

HCC 81

Coefficient HCC 81: 0.244 (Community Non-Dual Aged (CNA))

CMS-HCC V24

Historical

Historical

Not used for CY2026 payment

ACA/HHS

HCC 048

Code-level coefficient reference

ESRD/PACE

HCC 35

Code-level coefficient reference

RXHCC

HCC 67

Code-level coefficient reference

Code Book Path

Official
K51.5Left sided colitisK51.51Left sided colitis with complicationsK51.514Left sided colitis with abscess

Inclusion Terms

Official
  • Left hemicolitisInherited from K51.5

Excludes 2

Official
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)Inherited from K00-K95
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)Inherited from K00-K95
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)Inherited from K00-K95
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)Inherited from K00-K95
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)Inherited from K00-K95
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)Inherited from K00-K95
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)Inherited from K00-K95
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)Inherited from K00-K95

Related Codes

Official
K51.511Left sided colitis with rectal bleedingK51.512Left sided colitis with intestinal obstructionK51.513Left sided colitis with fistulaK51.518Left sided colitis with other complicationK51.519Left sided colitis with unspecified complications

Includes

Official
  • noninfective inflammatory bowel diseaseInherited from K50-K52

Excludes 1

Official
  • irritable bowel syndrome (K58.-)Inherited from K50-K52, K51
  • megacolon (K59.3-)Inherited from K50-K52, K51
  • Crohn's disease [regional enteritis] (K50.-)Inherited from K50-K52, K51

Code First

Official

No Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for K51.514. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Use Additional

Official
  • code to identify any associated fistulas, if applicable:Inherited from K51
  • anal fistula (K60.3-)Inherited from K51
  • anorectal fistula (K60.5-)Inherited from K51
  • rectal fistula (K60.4-)Inherited from K51
  • code to identify manifestations, such as:Inherited from K51
  • pyoderma gangrenosum (L88)Inherited from K51

Code Also

Official

No Code Also instructions are included in this display for K51.514. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance
Confirmed left-sided ulcerative colitis diagnosis
Imaging demonstrating abscess (CT abdomen/pelvis or MRI)
Documentation of abscess location and size
Provider statement linking the abscess to the colitis

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance
Confirmed left-sided ulcerative colitis diagnosis
Imaging demonstrating abscess (CT abdomen/pelvis or MRI)
Documentation of abscess location and size
Provider statement linking the abscess to the colitis

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance
Coding the abscess separately with K63.0 or K61.x instead of the combination code
Not establishing the causal relationship between the abscess and the colitis in documentation
Using the uncomplicated code K51.50 when an abscess is present
Failing to code drainage procedures separately when performed

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance
K51.514 vs K63.0 — K63.0 is abscess of intestine unrelated to inflammatory bowel disease
K51.514 vs K61.x — K61 codes are for anorectal abscess not caused by inflammatory bowel disease
K51.514 vs K51.014 — K51.014 is pancolitis with abscess (more extensive disease)
K51.514 vs K51.513 — K51.513 is left-sided colitis with fistula, a different complication

Current with CMS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr 1 update (effective Apr 1 – Sep 30, 2026) · CMS-HCC V28, 100% phased in for payment year 2026. FY2027 code set already staged for October 1, 2026. How HCC Buddy stays current →

Is K51.514 an HCC code?

Yes. K51.514 (Left sided colitis with abscess) maps to HCC 81, Ulcerative Colitis under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, with a source-labeled community non-dual aged reference coefficient of 0.244. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes. It is billable for payment year 2026.

Coder answer: K51.514 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 81, Ulcerative Colitis. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.

Code
K51.514
Description
Left sided colitis with abscess
HCC (V28)
HCC 81 — Ulcerative Colitis
RAF reference coefficient
0.244
Billable
Yes
Payment year
2026

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 81, Ulcerative Colitis
0.244
ESRDHCC 35, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Not separately weighted
RxHCCHCC 67, Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Not separately weighted

These are source-labeled model coefficients, not member totals. A category may still be removed by hierarchy or model cleanup rules. Weights are not directly comparable across models: CMS-HCC V28 and V24 use Community, Non-Dual, Aged; ESRD uses the dialysis continuing-enrollee model; RxHCC is the Part D continuing-enrollee, non-low-income, aged weight (a larger scale than CMS-HCC). ACA/HHS has no single weight — it varies by metal level. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains available for historical review.

Work K51.514 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT review for K51.514

For K51.514, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.

  • MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
  • EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
  • AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
  • TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis

Coder workflow notes

Get the V28 mapping + MEAT cheat sheet

One printable reference: check representative V28 mappings and the documentation reminders your note needs. Free, no card.

Free PDF. No card. Unsubscribe anytime.

What This Code Means

K51.514 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for left sided colitis with abscess. Inflammation of the left side of the colon with a localized collection of pus (abscess) in the surrounding tissues. K51.514 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the digestive system (k00-k95), within the section covering noninfective enteritis and colitis (k50-k52).

Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, K51.514 maps to Ulcerative Colitis (HCC 81) with a source-labeled community, non-dual, aged reference coefficient of 0.244. For CY2026 non-PACE Medicare Advantage, CMS uses 100% of the 2024 CMS-HCC model (V28). PACE uses a separate model blend. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes.

Ensure documentation clearly indicates both left-sided colitis and abscess presence. For K51.514, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule. When documentation is ambiguous, coders should issue a provider query rather than assume the highest-specificity variant.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for K51.514 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

  • •Ensure documentation clearly indicates both left-sided colitis and abscess presence
  • •Note the location of abscess if documented, as this may influence clinical management and coding specificity

Clinical Significance

Left-sided ulcerative colitis with abscess indicates a localized collection of pus complicating left colonic inflammation. This serious infectious complication requires targeted antibiotic therapy and often percutaneous or surgical drainage, significantly increasing the complexity of care and healthcare costs.

Documentation Requirements

  • ✓Confirmed left-sided ulcerative colitis diagnosis
  • ✓Imaging demonstrating abscess (CT abdomen/pelvis or MRI)
  • ✓Documentation of abscess location and size
  • ✓Provider statement linking the abscess to the colitis
  • ✓Treatment plan including antibiotics and drainage if indicated
  • ✓Culture results if drainage was performed

Commonly Confused Codes

  • •K51.514 vs K63.0: K63.0 is abscess of intestine unrelated to inflammatory bowel disease
  • •K51.514 vs K61.x: K61 codes are for anorectal abscess not caused by inflammatory bowel disease
  • •K51.514 vs K51.014: K51.014 is pancolitis with abscess (more extensive disease)
  • •K51.514 vs K51.513: K51.513 is left-sided colitis with fistula, a different complication

Child Codes

K51.511Left sided colitis with rectal bleeding
HCC 81
K51.512Left sided colitis with intestinal obstruction
HCC 78
K51.513Left sided colitis with fistula
HCC 81
K51.514Left sided colitis with abscess
HCC 81
K51.518Left sided colitis with other complication
HCC 81
K51.519Left sided colitis with unspecified complications
HCC 81

Code Hierarchy

└K51Ulcerative colitis└K51.5Left sided colitis└K51.51Left sided colitis with complications└K51.514Left sided colitis with abscess
└K51.514Left sided colitis with abscess

Also searched as

  • K51 514
  • K51514

For K51.514, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.

K51.514 maps to CMS-HCC V28 category 81, Ulcerative Colitis. See the ICD-10 to HCC mapping hub for how the V28 crosswalk works. The mapping identifies a payment HCC category for K51.514. Review its source-labeled HCC coefficient above, check the RAF Calculator with complete member context for CMS-HCC V28 PY2026, and confirm the documentation the chart needs before the code is submitted. HCC Buddy shows no RAF score unless every required source and calculation check passes.

Work K51.514 in HCC Buddy

Open K51.514 in the Code Book for the full Index-to-Tabular path, MEAT checklist, and V28 HCC mapping, or in the Encoder to code from a keyword search. Pro includes 7 days to try everything, no card required.

Open in Code BookOpen in EncoderStart Pro