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  2. ICD-10-CM Index
  3. Chapter: Z00–Z99
  4. Section: Z69-Z76
  5. Block: Z72
  6. Z72.4 - Inappropriate diet and eating habits

2022 ICD-10-CM Code Z72.4
Inappropriate diet and eating habits

Version 2022
Billable Code
Unacceptable Principal Diagnosis
POA Exempt
ICD-10:Z72.4
Short Description:Inappropriate diet and eating habits
Long Description:Inappropriate diet and eating habits
Status: Valid for Submission

Code Classification

  • Factors influencing health status and contact with health services (Z00–Z99)
    • Persons encountering health services in other circumstances (Z69-Z76)
      • Problems related to lifestyle (Z72)

Z72.4 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of inappropriate diet and eating habits. The code Z72.4 is valid during the fiscal year 2022 from October 01, 2021 through September 30, 2022 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions.

The ICD-10-CM code Z72.4 might also be used to specify conditions or terms like breakfast routine - finding, catering source - finding, diet followed - finding, diet not appropriate for age, dietary indiscretion , eating frequently, etc. The code is exempt from present on admission (POA) reporting for inpatient admissions to general acute care hospitals.

The code Z72.4 describes a circumstance which influences the patient's health status but not a current illness or injury. The code is unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10 codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more. The following references are applicable to the code Z72.4:


Type 1 Excludes

Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.

Entries in the Index to Diseases and Injuries with references to Z72.4

The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10 code(s). The following references for the code Z72.4 are found in the index:

Code Edits

The Medicare Code Editor (MCE) detects and reports errors in the coding of claims data. The following ICD-10 Code Edits are applicable to this code:

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

Present on Admission (POA)

Z72.4 is exempt from POA reporting - The Present on Admission (POA) indicator is used for diagnosis codes included in claims involving inpatient admissions to general acute care hospitals. POA indicators must be reported to CMS on each claim to facilitate the grouping of diagnoses codes into the proper Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG). CMS publishes a listing of specific diagnosis codes that are exempt from the POA reporting requirement. Review other POA exempt codes here.

CMS POA Indicator Options and Definitions
POA Indicator CodePOA Reason for CodeCMS will pay the CC/MCC DRG?
YDiagnosis was present at time of inpatient admission.YES
NDiagnosis was not present at time of inpatient admission.NO
UDocumentation insufficient to determine if the condition was present at the time of inpatient admission.NO
WClinically undetermined - unable to clinically determine whether the condition was present at the time of inpatient admission.YES
1Unreported/Not used - Exempt from POA reporting. NO

Convert Z72.4 to ICD-9 Code

Code History

  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016 (First year ICD-10-CM implemented into the HIPAA code set)

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Parent Code: Z72

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