N17.9

Billable

Acute kidney failure, unspecified

HCC Category Mapping

V24HCC 135 — Acute Renal Failure

0.452

ESRDHCC 135 — Acute Renal Failure

0.000

What This Code Means

A sudden loss of kidney function where the specific cause or type is not documented or identified. This requires urgent medical treatment.

Coding Tips

•This is a non-specific code; use only when the type of acute kidney failure cannot be determined from the medical record
•Query the provider if possible to obtain more specific information about the cause (prerenal, intrinsic, or postrenal) to assign a more specific code

Clinical Significance

Unspecified acute kidney failure represents sudden onset kidney dysfunction without documented specific etiology or type, indicating critical illness requiring immediate intervention. This diagnosis captures acute renal failure when specific classification details are not available but acute nature is established.

Documentation Requirements

✓Acute onset of kidney failure clearly documented
✓Laboratory values showing rapid deterioration in kidney function
✓Clinical evidence supporting acute rather than chronic process
✓Documentation of why specific type cannot be determined
✓Treatment interventions and patient response
✓Assessment for potential reversible causes
✓Monitoring plan for kidney function recovery

Excludes 2 — Not included here, may code separately

traumatic kidney injury (S37.0-)

Commonly Confused Codes

N17.8 — Other acute kidney failure (when specific type is documented)N18.6 — End stage renal disease (chronic condition, not acute)N19 — Unspecified kidney failure (when acute vs chronic timing unclear)R94.4 — Abnormal results of kidney function studies (abnormal tests, not failure)

Code Hierarchy

└N17Acute kidney failure └N17.9Acute kidney failure, unspecified

└N17.9Acute kidney failure, unspecified