2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R63.39Other feeding difficulties

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R50-R69›R63

ICD-10-CM R63.39
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

R63.39 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other feeding difficulties. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 640 through 641. As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other general signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R63.39
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other feeding difficulties
Short Description
Other feeding difficulties
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R63.3
Feeding difficulties

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR50-R69General symptoms and signs
CategoryR63Symptoms and signs concerning food and fluid intake
This CodeR63.39Other feeding difficulties

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Chewing finding
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Difficulty clearing mouth of residue
  • Difficulty controlling bolus of food
  • Difficulty cutting up food
  • Difficulty drinking from a bottle
  • Difficulty feeding self with left hand
  • Difficulty feeding self with right hand
  • Difficulty finger feeding
  • Difficulty in retrieving food from buccal sulcus
  • Difficulty latching on to breast for feeding
  • Difficulty moving food in mouth
  • Difficulty placing food in mouth
  • Difficulty projecting bolus of food into pharynx
  • Difficulty retaining food in mouth
  • Difficulty sucking
  • Difficulty suckling
  • Difficulty taking food to mouth
  • Difficulty using cutlery to feed self
  • Difficulty using feeding aid
  • Difficulty using fork to feed self
  • Difficulty using hands to feed self
  • Difficulty using knife and fork to feed self
  • Difficulty using spoon to feed self
  • Does not clear mouth of residue
  • Does not control bolus of food
  • Does not cut up food
  • Does not finger feed
  • Does not latch on to breast for feeding
  • Does not move food in mouth
  • Does not place food in mouth
  • Does not project bolus of food into pharynx
  • Does not retain food in mouth
  • Does not suck
  • Does not take food to mouth
  • Does not to suckle
  • Does not use cutlery to feed self
  • Does not use feeding aid
  • Does not use fork to feed self
  • Does not use hands to feed self
  • Does not use knife and fork to feed self
  • Does not use left hand to feed self
  • Does not use right hand to feed self
  • Does not use spoon to feed self
  • Elderly feeding problem
  • Feeding problem
  • Feeding problem due to illness
  • Feeding problem in adulthood
  • Feeding problem in child
  • Finding of infant feeding pattern
  • Finding related to ability to chew
  • Finding related to ability to clear mouth of residue
  • Finding related to ability to control bolus of food
  • Finding related to ability to cut up food
  • Finding related to ability to drink from bottle
  • Finding related to ability to feed self with left hand
  • Finding related to ability to feed self with right hand
  • Finding related to ability to finger feed
  • Finding related to ability to latch on to breast for feeding
  • Finding related to ability to place food in mouth
  • Finding related to ability to project bolus of food into pharynx
  • Finding related to ability to retain food in mouth
  • Finding related to ability to retrieve food from buccal sulcus
  • Finding related to ability to suck
  • Finding related to ability to suckle
  • Finding related to ability to take food to mouth
  • Finding related to ability to use feeding aid
  • Finding related to ability to use fork to feed self
  • Finding related to ability to use knife and fork to feed self
  • Finding related to ability to use spoon to feed self
  • Food fads
  • Infant feeding problem
  • Infant not tolerating feeds
  • Picky eater
  • Refusal of feeds in infant
  • Unable to chew
  • Unable to clear mouth of residue
  • Unable to control bolus of food
  • Unable to cut up food
  • Unable to feed self with left hand
  • Unable to feed self with right hand
  • Unable to finger feed
  • Unable to latch on to breast for feeding
  • Unable to move food in mouth
  • Unable to place food in mouth
  • Unable to project bolus of food into pharynx
  • Unable to retain food in mouth
  • Unable to retrieve food from buccal sulcus
  • Unable to suck
  • Unable to suckle
  • Unable to take food to mouth
  • Unable to use cutlery to feed self
  • Unable to use feeding aid
  • Unable to use fork to feed self
  • Unable to use hands to feed self
  • Unable to use knife and fork to feed self
  • Unable to use spoon to feed self

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to R63.39: its own notes plus those printed at R63.3, R63, and Chapter 18. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Applicable To

Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Feeding problem (elderly) (infant) NOS
  • Picky eater

Excludes1

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

From R63 Symptoms and signs concerning food and fluid intake applies to 11 codes

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 R63.3 Feeding difficulties applies to 4 codes
  • eating disorders (F50.-)
  • feeding problems of newborn (P92.-)
  • infant feeding disorder of nonorganic origin (F98.2-)
From Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters
  • signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • This chapter includes symptoms, signs, abnormal results of clinical or other investigative procedures, and ill-defined conditions regarding which no diagnosis classifiable elsewhere is recorded.
  • Signs and symptoms that point rather definitely to a given diagnosis have been assigned to a category in other chapters of the classification. In general, categories in this chapter include the less well-defined conditions and symptoms that, without the necessary study of the case to establish a final diagnosis, point perhaps equally to two or more diseases or to two or more systems of the body. Practically all categories in the chapter could be designated 'not otherwise specified', 'unknown etiology' or 'transient'. The Alphabetical Index should be consulted to determine which symptoms and signs are to be allocated here and which to other chapters. The residual subcategories, numbered .8, are generally provided for other relevant symptoms that cannot be allocated elsewhere in the classification.
  • The conditions and signs or symptoms included in categories R00-R94 consist of:
  • (a) cases for which no more specific diagnosis can be made even after all the facts bearing on the case have been investigated;
  • (b) signs or symptoms existing at the time of initial encounter that proved to be transient and whose causes could not be determined;
  • (c) provisional diagnosis in a patient who failed to return for further investigation or care;
  • (d) cases referred elsewhere for investigation or treatment before the diagnosis was made;
  • (e) cases in which a more precise diagnosis was not available for any other reason;
  • (f) certain symptoms, for which supplementary information is provided, that represent important problems in medical care in their own right.

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name R63.39, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 3

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming R63.39: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • F50 Eating disorders
    feeding difficulties (R63.3-) names R63.3-, which includes this code
  • F98.2 Other feeding disorders of infancy and childhood
    feeding difficulties (R63.3-) names R63.3-, which includes this code
  • P92 Feeding problems of newborn
    feeding problems in child over 28 days old (R63.3-) names R63.3-, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM016
Other general signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement R63.39 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • R63.3 - Feeding difficulties
FY 2022AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2021.
FY 2023–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About R63.39Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for other feeding difficulties?

The ICD-10-CM code for other feeding difficulties is R63.39 (sometimes written as R6339). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is R63.39 (Feeding difficulties) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other feeding difficulties on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does R63.39 group to?

When other feeding difficulties is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 641, 640, with relative weights from 0.7864 to 1.3392 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R63.39 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the other feeding difficulties is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

Can R63.39 be reported with a code from F50.2?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at R63, which applies to R63.39, lists "bulimia NOS (F50.2-)". 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).