2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z59.48Other specified lack of adequate food

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z55-Z65›Z59

ICD-10-CM Z59.48
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

Z59.48 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other specified lack of adequate food. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 951. The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor and exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as accident due to lack of food. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Socioeconomic/psychosocial factors.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z59.48
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other specified lack of adequate food
Short Description
Other specified lack of adequate food
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 CodeZ59.48Other specified lack of adequate food

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z59.48.

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

Z59.48 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Persons with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances (Z55-Z65).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Accident due to lack of food
  • Community resource finding
  • Insufficient food supply
  • Limited access to nutrition supplies
  • Low food and/or nutrition quality of life

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to Z59.48: its own notes plus those printed at Z59.4, Z59, and Chapter 21. 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.

  • Inadequate food
  • Lack of food

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 Z59.4 Lack of adequate food applies to 2 codes
  • deprivation of food (T73.0)
  • effects of hunger (T73.0)
  • inappropriate diet or eating habits (Z72.4)
  • malnutrition (E40-E46)
From Z59 Problems related to housing and economic circumstances applies to 25 codes
  • problems related to upbringing (Z62.-)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 21 (Z00-Z99) Factors influencing health status and contact with health services applies to 1,425 codes
  • Z codes represent reasons for encounters. A corresponding procedure code must accompany a Z code if a procedure is performed. Categories Z00-Z99 are provided for occasions when circumstances other than a disease, injury or external cause classifiable to categories A00-Y89 are recorded as 'diagnoses' or 'problems'. This can arise in two main ways:
  • (a) When a person who may or may not be sick encounters the health services for some specific purpose, such as to receive limited care or service for a current condition, to donate an organ or tissue, to receive prophylactic vaccination (immunization), or to discuss a problem which is in itself not a disease or injury.
  • (b) When some circumstance or problem is present which influences the person's health status but is not in itself a current illness or injury.

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name Z59.48, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming Z59.48: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • Z72.4 Inappropriate diet and eating habits
    lack of adequate food (Z59.48)

Excludes2 3

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming Z59.48: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • Z56 Problems related to employment and unemployment
    problems related to housing and economic circumstances (Z59.-) names Z59.-, which includes this code
  • Z59.12 Inadequate housing utilities
    lack of adequate food (Z59.4-) names Z59.4-, which includes this code
  • Z62 Problems related to upbringing
    problems related to housing and economic circumstances (Z59.-) names Z59.-, which includes this code

Code Also 2

These codes say Z59.48 may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • Z91.11 Patient's noncompliance with dietary regimen
    if applicable, food insecurity (Z59.4-) names Z59.4-, which includes this code
  • Z91.A1 Caregiver's noncompliance with patient's dietary regimen
    if applicable, food insecurity (Z59.4-) names Z59.4-, 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 FAC019
Socioeconomic/psychosocial factors
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement Z59.48 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 2023–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About Z59.48Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for other specified lack of adequate food?

The ICD-10-CM code for other specified lack of adequate food is Z59.48 (sometimes written as Z5948). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is Z59.48 (Lack of adequate food) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does Z59.48 group to?

On inpatient claims, other specified lack of adequate food maps to MS-DRG 951 (other Factors Influencing Health Status), which carries a relative weight of 0.5574. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can Z59.48 be a principal diagnosis?

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

Is Z59.48 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 other specified lack of adequate food on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Persons with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances (Z55-Z65) range of the CMS exempt list.