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Z59.41 ICD-10-CM Code: Food insecurity

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43.0, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 951 — OTHER FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH STATUS (MDC 23)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Food insecurity is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (Z59.41).

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for Z59.41 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

Indexed Clinical Terms (2)

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code.

  • Food, insecurity
  • Insecurity, food

Frequently Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on Z59.41 name these codes. Each comparison page covers when the two can — or must not — be reported together.

Change history

  • FY2022 — 2021-10-01
    Added to the code set
    Food insecurity
    FY2022 changes

Verify Before Coding

  • Principal-diagnosis restriction. The Medicare Code Editor lists this code as unacceptable as a principal diagnosis: it describes a circumstance influencing health status rather than a current illness or injury being treated. It is valid as a secondary diagnosis.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim.

Relationships & Classification

Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes on other codes that name Z59.41 or its code family.

3 Excludes2 notes: Z56 (via Z59.-), Z59.12 (via Z59.4.-), Z62 (via Z59.-).

2 Code Also instructions: Z91.11 (via Z59.4.-), Z91.A1 (via Z59.4.-).

Potential MS-DRG Relationships (FY2026)

Not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity.

Named in the grouper logic of 1 MS-DRG: DRG 951 (MDC 23).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):FAC019 — Socioeconomic/psychosocial factors.

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Contextual Map

Every relationship of Z59.41 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Hierarchy

  • Z00-Z99 — Chapter 21: Factors Influencing Health Status and Contact with Health Services (Z00-Z99) (Z00-Z99) [Hierarchy]
  • Z55-Z65 — Persons with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances [Hierarchy]

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

  • Z56 — Problems related to employment and unemployment [Excludes2](via Z59.-): “problems related to housing and economic circumstances (Z59.-)” · check together
  • Z59.12 — Inadequate housing utilities [Excludes2](via Z59.4.-): “lack of adequate food (Z59.4-)” · check together
  • Z62 — Problems related to upbringing [Excludes2](via Z59.-): “problems related to housing and economic circumstances (Z59.-)” · check together

Referenced by Code Also instructions

  • Z91.11 — Patient's noncompliance with dietary regimen [Code Also](via Z59.4.-): “, if applicable, food insecurity (Z59.4-)” · check together
  • Z91.A1 — Caregiver's noncompliance with patient's dietary regimen [Code Also](via Z59.4.-): “, if applicable, food insecurity (Z59.4-)” · check together

Clinical classification (CCSR)

  • FAC019 — Socioeconomic/psychosocial factors [CCSR]

Potential MS-DRG

  • DRG 951 — OTHER FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH STATUS [MS-DRG]: “OTHER FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH STATUS (MDC 23)”

MDC crossing · procedures (1235)

  • MDC 23 — Factors Influencing Health Status and Other Contacts with Health Services [MDC crossing]: “Factors Influencing Health Status and Other Contacts with Health Services — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs.”
  • F003GKZ — Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Audiovisual Equipment [Same-MDC procedure]: “Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Audiovisual Equipment — grouped in MDC 23, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • F003GMZ — Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Augmentative / Alternative Communication Equipment [Same-MDC procedure]: “Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Augmentative / Alternative Communication Equipment — grouped in MDC 23, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • F003GPZ — Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Computer [Same-MDC procedure]: “Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Computer — grouped in MDC 23, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • F003GYZ — Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Other Equipment [Same-MDC procedure]: “Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Other Equipment — grouped in MDC 23, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • F003GZZ — Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body [Same-MDC procedure]: “Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body — grouped in MDC 23, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • and 1230 more

Index entries

  • Food, insecurity[Index term]
  • Insecurity, food[Index term]

Nearest codes (32)

  • Z59 — Problems related to housing and economic circumstances [Sibling]
  • Z59.0 — Homelessness [Sibling]
  • Z59.00 — Homelessness unspecified [Sibling]
  • Z59.01 — Sheltered homelessness [Sibling]
  • Z59.02 — Unsheltered homelessness [Sibling]
  • Z59.1 — Inadequate housing [Sibling]
  • Z59.10 — Inadequate housing, unspecified [Sibling]
  • Z59.11 — Inadequate housing environmental temperature [Sibling]
  • and 24 more

Change history

  • FY2022 — Added to the code set [Change history]

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to Z59.41 in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • Z59.12 — Inadequate housing utilities
  • Z59.19 — Other inadequate housing
  • Z59.2 — Discord with neighbors, lodgers and landlord
  • Z59.3 — Problems related to living in residential institution
  • Z59.4 — Lack of adequate food
  • Z59.48 — Other specified lack of adequate food
  • Z59.5 — Extreme poverty
  • Z59.6 — Low income
  • Z59.7 — Insufficient social insurance and welfare support
  • Z59.71 — Insufficient health insurance coverage

View all codes in the Z59 family