The ICD-10-CM code for hypokalemia is E87.6 (Hypokalemia), a billable code reported when a patient has a documented deficiency of potassium in the blood as the primary electrolyte disturbance.
Primary codes
Billable
Billable
Extension
—
7th character
—
POA exempt
No
Inclusion terms
- Potassium [K] deficiency
Coding risks
- Coding based on lab values alone without provider interpretation
Hierarchy
Code comparison
Compare key differences between related codes to select the most specific option.
| Code | Description | Scenario |
|---|---|---|
| E87.6 | Hypokalemia | Patient with documented low serum potassium, no sodium or other electrolyte disturbance noted. |
| E87.5 | Hyperkalemia | Patient with documented elevated serum potassium, no sodium or other electrolyte disturbance noted. |
| E87.1 | Hypo-osmolality and hyponatremia | Patient with documented low serum sodium or hypo-osmolality, no potassium abnormality noted. |
| E87.0 | Hyperosmolality and hypernatremia | Patient with elevated serum sodium or hyperosmolar state documented, often from dehydration or water deficit. |
| E87.8 | Other disorders of electrolyte and fluid balance, not elsewhere classified | Patient with documented electrolyte imbalance not specified as a sodium or potassium disorder. |
Select the most specific code supported by the encounter documentation. More specific codes improve reimbursement accuracy and reduce audit risk.
Code ranges
Other disorders of fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance
Category covering hyperosmolality, hypoosmolality, acidosis, alkalosis, fluid overload, and specific potassium and sodium imbalance disorders.
Metabolic disorders
Sub-chapter covering inborn and acquired disturbances of amino acid, carbohydrate, lipid, mineral, and fluid-electrolyte metabolism.
Volume depletion
Codes for dehydration and hypovolemia reflecting loss of body fluid volume rather than specific electrolyte concentration abnormalities.
Hyperkalemia
Elevated serum potassium concentration, the opposite electrolyte disturbance from hypokalemia within the same E87 category.
Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of electrolytic, caloric and water-balance agents
Codes for toxic effects, adverse reactions, and underdosing involving potassium supplements, diuretics, and other electrolyte-affecting agents.
Coding risks
Avoid these common coding issues when reporting Hypokalemia.
Impact
Assigning E87.6 without context may miss reportable causes such as drug-induced or dietary etiologies that drive sequencing.
Mitigation
Consider querying the provider when only a lab value is noted rather than inferring hypokalemia from supplementation orders alone.
Related codes
Ancillary and co-coding
Codes commonly reported with the primary diagnosis on the same claim.
Z-code variants
Family history, personal history, or screening encounter codes related to this condition.
Differential codes
Alternative or commonly confused codes to consider when documentation suggests a different condition than the primary diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
No. E87.6 and E87.5 represent opposing potassium states and should not be coded concurrently unless documentation clearly supports separate episodes.
References
Compiled from the following authoritative coding references. Last updated 2026-05-15.