What does ICD-10 code K70 mean?

ICD-10 code K70 is the standardized code used for alcoholic liver disease in medical records and coding systems.

When is ICD-10 code K70 used?

Doctors, hospitals, and insurers may use ICD-10 code K70 when recording alcoholic liver disease in a standardized format. This entry may also act as a broader category that points toward more specific child codes.

Does ICD-10 code K70 confirm a diagnosis?

No. A code helps standardize documentation and claims, but it should not be read as a substitute for a clinician's full assessment.

ICD10

ICD-10 Code K70: Alcoholic liver disease

Name: ICD-10 Code K70: Alcoholic liver disease
Creator: HealthAssure Clinical Team
Published: 2026-05-21T06:15:56.505Z

K70 is an ICD-10 diagnosis entry used to group records related to Alcoholic liver disease. You may see this entry in coding references, medical records, or claims workflows when a broader diagnosis category is being reviewed before a more specific code is chosen. ICD-10 entries help standardize how diagnoses are organized for coding, reporting, analytics, and documentation. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K95).

Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 21 May 2026

What is this code?

ICD-10 entries help standardize how diagnoses are organized for coding, reporting, analytics, and documentation. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K95).

When is it used?

May be used when a clinician documents alcoholic liver disease in a patient's medical record.
May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
This code may act more like a grouping or parent code, so a more specific child code may be used in final documentation when available.

What it does not mean

A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.
This entry may represent a broader category rather than the most specific billable code.

Code hierarchy

chapter

11Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K95)

block

K70-K77Diseases of liver

currentK70-K77

Official coding notes

Applicable to

code to identify:
alcohol abuse and dependence (F10.-)

Use additional code

code to identify:
alcohol abuse and dependence (F10.-)

Where you may see this code

You may see this entry in coding references, medical records, or claims workflows when a broader diagnosis category is being reviewed before a more specific code is chosen.

Related specialists

GastroenterologistGeneral Physician

Sibling codes

K71Toxic liver disease K72Hepatic failure, not elsewhere classified K73Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified K74Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver K75Other inflammatory liver diseases K76Other diseases of liver K77Liver disorders in diseases classified elsewherebillable

Coding guidelines

Compatibility

Legacy code aligns to an official FY 2026 category. Frontend should resolve to the official category page and surface the billable child codes.

Legacy codes

K70

Replacement codes

K70.0 — Alcoholic fatty liverK70.2 — Alcoholic fibrosis and sclerosis of liverK70.9 — Alcoholic liver disease, unspecified

Common synonyms

Alcoholic liver disease

Frequently asked questions

About this content

This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.