ICD-10 Code K70 – Alcoholic liver disease (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K70 – Alcoholic liver disease
What it is
K70 identifies liver disease caused by chronic alcohol use. Use it when the record links liver injury, inflammation, fibrosis, or cirrhosis to alcohol.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Common findings may include hepatomegaly, jaundice, abdominal discomfort, or signs of chronic liver dysfunction.
When to use this code
Use K70 when the provider documents alcoholic liver disease as the diagnosis or clearly states alcohol-related hepatic injury. It may apply to alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, or cirrhosis when the chart supports the alcohol cause. Code the documented subtype when one is specified.
Do not use for
Do not use K70 for liver disease from nonalcoholic causes or when alcohol use is mentioned without a documented liver diagnosis. Check documentation if the cause of liver disease is unclear.
Coding tip
Look for explicit provider linkage between alcohol use and the liver condition before assigning K70.