2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z59.41Food insecurity

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z55-Z65›Z59

ICD-10-CM Z59.41
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z59.41 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for food insecurity. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor and exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Socioeconomic/psychosocial factors.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z59.41
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Food insecurity
Short Description
Food insecurity
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z59.4
Lack of adequate food

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ55-Z65Persons with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances
CategoryZ59Problems related to housing and economic circumstances
This CodeZ59.41Food insecurity

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z59.41.

Unacceptable principal diagnosis
There are selected codes that describe a circumstance which influences an individual's health status but not a current illness or injury, or codes that are not specific manifestations but may be due to an underlying cause. These codes are considered unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Z59.41 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Food insecurity
  • Mild food insecurity on United States household food security survey module
  • Moderate food insecurity on United States household food security survey module
  • Severe food insecurity on United States household food security survey module
  • Transport problem
  • Transportation insecurity limiting access to food

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.

    • Food
      • insecurity
    • Insecurity
      • food

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC019
Socioeconomic/psychosocial factors
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Food Insecurity

    limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in safe and socially acceptable ways.

  • Food Insecurity

    an individual's concern about consistent access to sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious food for an active, healthy life.

  • USDA Six-Item Standard Measure|Food Insecurity

    a six-item standard measure from the u.s. department of agriculture economic research service designed to measure an individual's or family's availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutritionally adequate food.

  • Food Insecurity Questionnaire|Food Insecurity Protocol

    an interviewer-administered six-item questionnaire designed to assess an individual's or family's access to food, ability to purchase food, and food quality and quantity. it is derived from the us department of agriculture (usda) economic research service's food security module in the united states.

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement Z59.41 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • Z59.4 - Lack of adequate food
  • Z59.4 - Lack of adequate food and safe drinking water
FY 2022AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2021.
FY 2023–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About Z59.41Overview

Is Z59.41 (Lack of adequate food) a billable code?

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

Can Z59.41 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because food insecurity describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

Is Z59.41 exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for food insecurity on inpatient claims.