2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T76.02XAChild neglect or abandonment, suspected, initial encounter
T76.02XA is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for child neglect or abandonment, suspected, initial encounter. The 7th character A marks it as an initial encounter code, used while the patient is receiving active treatment. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 922 through 923. The code is restricted by the Medicare Code Editor to pediatric patients (age 0 through 17). Coders also document this condition as malnutrition. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under External cause codes: intent of injury, assault; External cause codes: other specified, classifiable and NEC; initial encounter; and Maltreatment/abuse.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Code EditsBilling
Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for T76.02XA.
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Malnutrition
- Malnutrition due to child maltreatment
- Suspected victim of child abandonment
- Suspected victim of child abuse
- Suspected victim of child neglect
Coding GuidelinesGuidance
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Adult and child abuse, neglect and other maltreatment, suspected (T76). Use the following options for the applicable episode of care:
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
Source: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2026, published by CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Child Nutrition Disorders
disorders caused by nutritional imbalance, either overnutrition or undernutrition, occurring in children ages 2 to 12 years.Fetal Nutrition Disorders
disorders caused by nutritional imbalance, either overnutrition or undernutrition, in the fetus in utero.Infant Nutrition Disorders
disorders caused by nutritional imbalance, either overnutrition or undernutrition, occurring in infants ages 1 month to 24 months.Malnutrition
an imbalanced nutritional status resulting from insufficient intake of nutrients to meet normal physiological requirement.Protein-Energy Malnutrition
the lack of sufficient energy or protein to meet the body's metabolic demands, as a result of either an inadequate dietary intake of protein, intake of poor quality dietary protein, increased demands due to disease, or increased nutrient losses.Severe Acute Malnutrition
acute form of malnutrition which usually affects children, characterized by a very low weight for height (below -3z scores of the median world health organization standards), visible severe wasting, or occurrence of nutritional edema. it can be a direct or indirect cause of fatality in children suffering from diarrhea and pneumonia. do not confuse with starvation, a condition in which the body is not getting enough food, usually for extended periods of time.Fetus
the unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. in humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after conception until birth, as distinguished from the earlier embryo, mammalian.
Patient EducationClinical
Child Abuse
Child abuse is doing something or failing to do something that results in harm to a child or puts a child at risk of harm. Child abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional. Neglect, or not providing for a child's needs, is also a form of abuse.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert T76.02XA to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About T76.02XAOverview
Is T76.02XA (Child neglect or abandonment, suspected) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report child neglect or abandonment, suspected, initial encounter on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What does the 7th character A in T76.02XA mean?
The final character A marks the initial encounter: use it while the patient is receiving active treatment for child neglect or abandonment, suspected, such as an emergency visit or first evaluation.
What MS-DRG does T76.02XA group to?
When child neglect or abandonment, suspected, initial encounter is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 922, 923, with relative weights from 1.0177 to 1.7494 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Who can T76.02XA be reported for?
The Medicare Code Editor checks child neglect or abandonment, suspected, initial encounter against patient demographics: this code is intended for pediatric patients (age 0 through 17). Claims outside these limits are flagged as inconsistent.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of T76.02XA?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, child neglect or abandonment, suspected, initial encounter converts to ICD-9-CM 995.52 (child neglect-nutrition). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
Footnotes
[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.
