2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F78Other intellectual disabilities

ICD-10-CM Codes›F01–F99›F70-F79›F78

ICD-10-CM F78
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

F78 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for other intellectual disabilities, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as F78.A1 and F78.A9. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Neurodevelopmental disorders.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
F78
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Other intellectual disabilities
Short Description
Other intellectual disabilities
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
F70-F79
Intellectual disabilities

Code Classification

ChapterF01–F99Mental and behavioural disorders
SectionF70-F79Intellectual disabilities
CategoryF78Other intellectual disabilities
This CodeF78Other intellectual disabilities

Specific Coding for Other intellectual disabilitiesOverview

Non-specific codes like F78 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • F78.A for Other genetic related intellectual disabilities

  • Use F78.A1 for SYNGAP1-related intellectual disability

  • Use F78.A9 for Other genetic related intellectual disability

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to F78: its own notes plus those printed at block F70-F79 and Chapter 5. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From Chapter 5 (F01-F99) Mental and behavioural disorders applies to 872 codes
  • disorders of psychological development

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

From Block F70-F79 Intellectual disabilities applies to 7 codes
  • borderline intellectual functioning, IQ above 70 to 84 (R41.83)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 5 (F01-F99) Mental and behavioural disorders applies to 872 codes
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)

Code First

The underlying condition named in the note is sequenced before this code.

From Block F70-F79 Intellectual disabilities applies to 7 codes
  • any associated physical or developmental disorders

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name F78, its category, or a range that includes it.

Applicable To 1

These notes mention F78.

  • Z81.0 Family history of intellectual disabilities
    Conditions classifiable to F70-F79 names F70-F79, which includes this code

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming F78: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • R41.83 Borderline intellectual functioning
    intellectual disabilities (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code

Excludes2 4

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming F78: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • F80.0 Phonological disorder
    speech articulation impairment due to intellectual disabilities (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code
  • F80.1 Expressive language disorder
    intellectual disabilities (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code
  • F80.2 Mixed receptive-expressive language disorder
    intellectual disabilities (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code
  • F82 Specific developmental disorder of motor function
    lack of coordination secondary to intellectual disabilities (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code

Code First 1

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and F78 is one of the conditions named.

  • Z91.83 Wandering in diseases classified elsewhere
    intellectual disabilities (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code

Use Additional Code 5

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and F78 is one of the codes named.

  • E00 Congenital iodine-deficiency syndrome
    code (F70-F79) to identify associated intellectual disabilities. names F70-F79, which includes this code
  • Q87.87 Hao-Fountain Syndrome
    intellectual disabilities (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code
  • Q87.88 CTNNB1 syndrome
    intellectual disability (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code
  • Q90 Down syndrome
    code(s) to identify any associated degree of intellectual disabilities (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code
  • Q93.52 Phelan-McDermid syndrome
    degree of intellectual disabilities (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code

Code Also 4

These codes say F78 may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • G93.45 Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy
    intellectual disabilities (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code
  • Q87.85 MED13L syndrome
    intellectual disability (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code
  • QA0 Neurodevelopmental disorders related to specific genetic pathogenic variants
    intellectual disabilities (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code
  • Z15.1 Genetic susceptibility to epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disorders
    intellectual disabilities (F70-F79) names F70-F79, which includes this code

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

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

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 F78 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
319 Intellect disability NOS
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2021No changes
FY 2022RevisedCode revised
FY 2023–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About F78Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for other intellectual disabilities?

F78 is the ICD-10-CM category for other intellectual disabilities, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is F78 (Other intellectual disabilities) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for other intellectual disabilities, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for other intellectual disabilities need a more specific code from this category, such as F78.A1 and F78.A9.

Can F78 be reported with R41.83?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at block F70-F79, which applies to F78, lists "borderline intellectual functioning, IQ above 70 to 84 (R41.83)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of F78?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other intellectual disabilities converts to ICD-9-CM 319 (intellect disability NOS). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.