What does ICD-10 code K70.4 mean?

ICD-10 code K70.4 is the standardized code used for alcoholic hepatic failure in medical records and coding systems.

When is ICD-10 code K70.4 used?

Doctors, hospitals, and insurers may use ICD-10 code K70.4 when recording alcoholic hepatic failure in a standardized format. This entry may also act as a broader category that points toward more specific child codes.

Does ICD-10 code K70.4 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 K70.4: Alcoholic hepatic failure

Name: ICD-10 Code K70.4: Alcoholic hepatic failure
Creator: HealthAssure Clinical Team
Published: 2026-05-26T12:46:38.762Z

K70.4 is an ICD-10 diagnosis entry used to group records related to Alcoholic hepatic failure. 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 26 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 hepatic failure 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

Official coding notes

Inclusion terms

Acute alcoholic hepatic failure
Alcoholic hepatic failure NOS
Chronic alcoholic hepatic failure
Subacute alcoholic hepatic failure

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

K70.0Alcoholic fatty liverbillable K70.1Alcoholic hepatitis K70.2Alcoholic fibrosis and sclerosis of liverbillable K70.3Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver K70.9Alcoholic liver disease, unspecifiedbillable

Mapped diagnoses and classifications

SNOMED_CT 235881000high

Alcoholic hepatic failure

Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map

SNOMED_CT 1082621000119108high

Hepatic coma due to alcoholic liver failure

Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map

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

K70.4

Replacement codes

K70.40 — Alcoholic hepatic failure without comaK70.41 — Alcoholic hepatic failure with coma

Common synonyms

Alcoholic hepatic failure

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.