2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F72Severe intellectual disabilities

ICD-10-CM Codes›F01–F99›F70-F79›F72

ICD-10-CM F72
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

F72 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for severe intellectual disabilities. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Neurodevelopmental disorders.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
F72
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Severe intellectual disabilities
Chapter
F70-F79
Intellectual disabilities

Code Classification

ChapterF01–F99Mental and behavioural disorders
SectionF70-F79Intellectual disabilities
CategoryF72Severe intellectual disabilities
This CodeF72Severe intellectual disabilities

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Congenital insensitivity to pain with severe intellectual disability
  • Congenital retrognathism
  • Craniosynostosis, microretrognathia, severe intellectual disability syndrome
  • Diplegia
  • Recession of bone
  • Severe intellectual disability
  • Severe intellectual disability and progressive spastic paraplegia
  • Severe intellectual disability, poor language, strabismus, grimacing face, long fingers syndrome
  • Severe intellectual disability, progressive postnatal microcephaly, midline stereotypic hand movements syndrome
  • Severe intellectual disability, progressive spastic diplegia syndrome
  • Severe intellectual disability, short stature, behavioral abnormalities, facial dysmorphism syndrome
  • Severe motor and intellectual disabilities, sensorineural deafness, dystonia syndrome
  • Spastic diplegia
  • Spastic paralysis

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • IQ 20-25 to 35-40
  • Severe mental subnormality

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Disability, disabilities
      • intellectual
        • severe (I.Q.20-34)
    • I.Q.
      • 20-34

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR MBD014
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Brachial Amyotrophic Diplegia|BAD|FAS|Flail Arm Syndrome|MIBS|Man-in-barrel Syndrome

    a neurodegenerative condition characterized by asymmetric weakness in the upper extremities resulting from segmental lower motor neuron dysfunction.

  • Diplegia

    paralysis affecting corresponding parts on both sides of the body.

  • Diplegia of Upper Limbs|Diplegia of upper limbs

    evidence of diplegia of the upper limbs.

  • Neurodevelopmental Disorder with Spastic Diplegia and Visual Defects|MRD19|Mental Retardation, Autosomal Dominant 19|NEDSDV

    an autosomal dominant condition caused by mutation(s) in the ctnnb1 gene, encoding catenin beta-1. it is characterized by severe intellectual disability, progressive spastic diplegia, visual impairment, and dysmorphic craniofacial features.

  • Quadriplegia|Bilateral Diplegia|Bilateral Diplegia|Quadriplegia, unspecified|Tetraplegia

    paralysis of all four limbs.

  • Spastic Diplegia|Little's Disease|Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

    a type of cerebral palsy characterized by spasticity and hypertonia of the lower extremities bilaterally, particularly the legs, hips, and pelvis; this is the most common (70%) form of cerebral palsy.

Patient EducationClinical

Developmental Disabilities

Developmental disabilities are conditions that are usually present at birth. They can affect a child's growth and development. These conditions can cause physical, learning, language, or behavior issues. They can include:

The full article covers:

  • What are developmental disabilities?
  • What causes developmental disabilities?
  • How are developmental disabilities diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for developmental disabilities?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert F72 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
318.1 Sev intellect disability
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About F72Overview

Is F72 (Severe intellectual disabilities) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report severe intellectual disabilities on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of F72?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, severe intellectual disabilities converts to ICD-9-CM 318.1 (sev intellect disability). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.