K90.9 is not a CMS-HCC payment code. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC coding software

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Code lookupK90.9

Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K95) / Other diseases of the digestive system (K90-K95)

K90.9

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

Intestinal malabsorption, unspecified

A condition where the intestines cannot properly absorb nutrients from food, but the specific cause is not identified or documented.

Buddy Insight

Unspecified intestinal malabsorption indicates impaired nutrient absorption without identification of the specific cause or mechanism.

Overview Risk Models Code Book Documentation Audit Notes Edition comparison

CMS-HCC V28

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

CMS-HCC V24

Historical

Not used for standard CY2026 Medicare Advantage payment. Select a historical period to review V24.

Not used for CY2026 payment

ACA/HHS

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

ESRD/PACE

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

RXHCC

Mapped

HCC 66

Pancreatic Disorders and Inte...

Code-level coefficient reference

Code Book Path

Official

K90Intestinal malabsorption K90.9Intestinal malabsorption, unspecified

Inclusion Terms

Official

No inclusion terms are included in this display for K90.9. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

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

K90.0Celiac disease K90.1Tropical sprue K90.2Blind loop syndrome, not elsewhere classified K90.3Pancreatic steatorrhea K90.4Other malabsorption due to intolerance

Includes

Official

No Includes notes are included in this display for K90.9. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Excludes 1

Official

intestinal malabsorption following gastrointestinal surgery (K91.2)Inherited from K90

Code First

Official

No Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for K90.9. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Use Additional

Official

No Use Additional Code instructions are included in this display for K90.9. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Code Also

Official

No Code Also instructions are included in this display for K90.9. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Evidence of impaired nutrient absorption

Clinical symptoms consistent with malabsorption

Laboratory findings showing nutritional deficiencies

Exclusion workup for specific causes documented

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Evidence of impaired nutrient absorption

Clinical symptoms consistent with malabsorption

Laboratory findings showing nutritional deficiencies

Exclusion workup for specific causes documented

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Using when a specific malabsorption syndrome has been identified

Not documenting evidence of actual malabsorption

Using as a default without appropriate workup

Failing to document why the malabsorption is unspecified

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

K90.0-K90.89 — More specific codes should be used when etiology is known

K59.1 — Functional diarrhea doesn't involve malabsorption

K91.2 — Postsurgical malabsorption when surgery is the cause

R19.7 — Diarrhea without evidence of malabsorption

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 K90.9 an HCC code?

Code: K90.9
Description: Intestinal malabsorption, unspecified
HCC (V28): No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
RAF reference coefficient: —
Billable: Yes
Payment year: 2026

HCC Category Mapping

RxHCCHCC 66, Pancreatic Disorders and Intestinal Malabsorption, Except Pancreatitis

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 K90.9 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT review for K90.9

For K90.9, 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

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What This Code Means

K90.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for intestinal malabsorption, unspecified. A condition where the intestines cannot properly absorb nutrients from food, but the specific cause is not identified or documented. K90.9 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the digestive system (k00-k95), within the section covering other diseases of the digestive system (k90-k95).

K90.9 has no mapping under the current CMS-HCC V28 community payment model. K90.9 has a separate mapping under the Part D RxHCC model (HCC 66 (Pancreatic Disorders and Intestinal Malabsorption, Except Pancreatitis)); the applicable result needs member context. Do not assign V28 risk adjustment value from this page; verify the applicable model and payment year before using this code for risk adjustment.

Use this code only when the type of malabsorption is unknown or unspecified; review documentation for more specific malabsorption codes (K90.0-K90.8).

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for K90.9 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•Use this code only when the type of malabsorption is unknown or unspecified; review documentation for more specific malabsorption codes (K90.0-K90.8)
•Consider querying the provider if additional testing or clinical findings could identify a more specific malabsorption disorder

Clinical Significance

Unspecified intestinal malabsorption indicates impaired nutrient absorption without identification of the specific cause or mechanism. This diagnosis requires further workup to identify the underlying etiology and guide appropriate treatment strategies.