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Z68.44 ICD-10-CM Code: Body mass index [BMI] 60.0-69.9, adult

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 640 — MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITH MCC (MDC 10)
  • MS-DRG 641 — MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITHOUT MCC (MDC 10)

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.

Risk Adjustment (CMS-HCC)

Payment categories this diagnosis maps to under CMS-HCC V28, payment year 2026.

  • HCC 48 — Morbid Obesity

Other models: CMS-HCC V22 HCC 22

Risk scores depend on the enrollee's full accepted diagnosis set and segment; a category mapping alone does not determine payment.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Body mass index [BMI] 60.0-69.9, adult is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (Z68.44).

Change history

  • FY2021 — 2020-10-01
    Description revised
    Body mass index (BMI) 60.0-69.9, adult → Body mass index [BMI] 60.0-69.9, adult
    FY2021 changes
  • FY2021 — 2020-10-01
    Short description revised
    Body mass index (BMI) 60.0-69.9, adult → Body mass index [BMI] 60.0-69.9, adult
    FY2021 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.
  • Age-restricted: the Medicare Code Editor lists this as a adult (age 15-124) diagnosis; other ages are presumed incorrect.
  • CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

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

Contextual Map

Every relationship of Z68.44 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]
  • Z68-Z68 — Body mass index [BMI] [Hierarchy]

Referenced by Use Additional Code instructions

  • E88.82 — Obesity due to disruption of MC4R pathway [Use Additional Code](via Z68.-): “code to identify body mass index (BMI), if known (Z68.-)” · check together
  • R63.6 — Underweight [Use Additional Code](via Z68.-): “code to identify body mass index (BMI), if known (Z68.-)” · check together
  • Z15.2 — Genetic susceptibility to obesity [Use Additional Code](via Z68.-): “code to identify body mass index (BMI), if known (Z68.-)” · check together
  • Z71.3 — Dietary counseling and surveillance [Use Additional Code](via Z68.-): “code to identify body mass index (BMI), if known (Z68.-)” · check together

Clinical classification (CCSR)

Risk adjustment (CMS-HCC)

  • HCC 48 — Morbid Obesity [CMS-HCC]

Potential MS-DRG

  • CC — Complication or Comorbidity [MS-DRG severity]: “As a secondary diagnosis this code can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier (CC).”
  • DRG 640 — MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITH MCC [MS-DRG]: “MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITH MCC (MDC 10)”
  • DRG 641 — MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITHOUT MCC [MS-DRG]: “MISCELLANEOUS DISORDERS OF NUTRITION, METABOLISM, FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES WITHOUT MCC (MDC 10)”

MDC crossing · procedures (5008)

  • MDC 10 — Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases and Disorders [MDC crossing]: “Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases and Disorders — 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.”
  • 018M0ZZ — Division of Abdominal Sympathetic Nerve, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Division of Abdominal Sympathetic Nerve, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 10, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 018M3ZZ — Division of Abdominal Sympathetic Nerve, Percutaneous Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Division of Abdominal Sympathetic Nerve, Percutaneous Approach — grouped in MDC 10, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 018M4ZZ — Division of Abdominal Sympathetic Nerve, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Division of Abdominal Sympathetic Nerve, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach — grouped in MDC 10, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 02HV02Z — Insertion of Monitoring Device into Superior Vena Cava, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Insertion of Monitoring Device into Superior Vena Cava, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 10, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 02HV0DZ — Insertion of Intraluminal Device into Superior Vena Cava, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Insertion of Intraluminal Device into Superior Vena Cava, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 10, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • and 5003 more

Index entries

  • Body, bodies, mass index (BMI), adult, 60.0-69.9[Index term]

Nearest codes (38)

  • Z68 — Body mass index [BMI] [Sibling]
  • Z68.1 — Body mass index [BMI] 19.9 or less, adult [Sibling]
  • Z68.18 — Body mass index [BMI] 18.4 or less, adult [Sibling]
  • Z68.19 — Body mass index [BMI] 18.5-19.9, adult [Sibling]
  • Z68.2 — Body mass index [BMI] 20-29, adult [Sibling]
  • Z68.20 — Body mass index [BMI] 20.0-20.9, adult [Sibling]
  • Z68.21 — Body mass index [BMI] 21.0-21.9, adult [Sibling]
  • Z68.22 — Body mass index [BMI] 22.0-22.9, adult [Sibling]
  • and 30 more

Change history (2)

  • FY2021 — Description revised [Change history]
  • and 1 more

Referenced by Other Codes

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):END009 — Obesity.

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

Potential MS-DRG Relationships (FY2026)

CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 9 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 2 MS-DRGs: DRG 640 (MDC 10), DRG 641 (MDC 10).

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

Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes on other codes that name Z68.44 or its code family.

4 Use Additional Code instructions across 3 chapters: E88.82 (via Z68.-), R63.6 (via Z68.-), Z15.2 (via Z68.-), Z71.3 (via Z68.-).

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to Z68.44 in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • Z68.39 — Body mass index [BMI] 39.0-39.9, adult
  • Z68.4 — Body mass index [BMI] 40 or greater, adult
  • Z68.41 — Body mass index [BMI] 40.0-44.9, adult
  • Z68.42 — Body mass index [BMI] 45.0-49.9, adult
  • Z68.43 — Body mass index [BMI] 50.0-59.9, adult
  • Z68.45 — Body mass index [BMI] 70 or greater, adult
  • Z68.5 — Body mass index [BMI] pediatric
  • Z68.51 — Body mass index [BMI] pediatric, less than 5th percentile for age
  • Z68.52 — Body mass index [BMI] pediatric, 5th percentile to less than 85th percentile for age
  • Z68.53 — Body mass index [BMI] pediatric, 85th percentile to less than 95th percentile for age

View all codes in the Z68 family

Indexed Clinical Terms (1)

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

  • Body, bodies, mass index (BMI), adult, 60.0-69.9