N18 – Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code · Acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease

Non-billable header

ICD-10-CM code N18

Code: N18 (claims format: N18)
Description: Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Billable: No – use a more specific code below
Valid for: Dates of service October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 (FY2027)
Chapter: 14. Diseases of the genitourinary system (N00-N99)
Block: N17-N19 Acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease

Billable codes under N18

N18 is a header code and cannot be used on claims. Choose the most specific code:

N18.1 – Chronic kidney disease, stage 1Billable
N18.2 – Chronic kidney disease, stage 2 (mild)Billable
N18.3 – Chronic kidney disease, stage 3 (moderate)Header (more codes below)
N18.4 – Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 (severe)Billable
N18.5 – Chronic kidney disease, stage 5Billable
N18.6 – End stage renal diseaseBillable
N18.9 – Chronic kidney disease, unspecifiedBillable

Notes for N18

Code first:

any associated:
diabetic chronic kidney disease (E08.22, E09.22, E10.22, E11.22, E13.22)
hypertensive chronic kidney disease (I12.-, I13.-)

Use additional code:

code, if applicable, to identify:
associated cachexia (E88.A)
kidney transplant status (Z94.0)

Notes inherited from parent codes

Instructional notes at a category or block level apply to every code below it.

Block N17-N19

Excludes2 (not included here):

congenital renal failure (P96.0)
drug- and heavy-metal-induced tubulo-interstitial and tubular conditions (N14.-)
extrarenal uremia (R39.2)
hemolytic-uremic syndrome (D59.3-)
hepatorenal syndrome (K76.7)
postpartum hepatorenal syndrome (O90.41)
posttraumatic renal failure (T79.5)
prerenal uremia (R39.2)
renal failure complicating abortion or ectopic or molar pregnancy (O00-O07, O08.4)
renal failure following labor and delivery (O90.41)
renal failure postprocedural (N99.0)

Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-10 code N18?

N18 is the ICD-10-CM code for chronic kidney disease (CKD), in the block N17-N19 (Acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease).

Is N18 a billable code?

No. N18 is a header code with more specific child codes; report one of the billable codes listed above.

Source: CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM FY2027 code files, tabular list and index. Reference only – code assignment must follow the official ICD-10-CM guidelines and documentation in the medical record.