Mild intellectual disabilities
In Intellectual Disabilities (F70-F79), chapter 5: Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- F70 is billable and valid on claims for FY 2027. If the record has more detail, check the other codes under F70-F79 below.
- As a secondary diagnosis it is not a CC or MCC, so it doesn't raise the MS-DRG payment.
- Doesn't count toward a Medicare Advantage risk score (no HCC in V28).
- AHRQ's Chronic Condition Indicator classes it as chronic: expected to last 12 months or longer and to limit daily life or need ongoing care.
Also indexed as: Defect, high grade; Disability, intellectual, mild; Feeble-minded; I.Q., 50-69; Moron; Weak, mind
Advertisements
Instructional notes
Includes: conditions that are coded here
- IQ level 50-55 to approximately 70
- Mild mental subnormality
Also applies, from Intellectual Disabilities (F70-F79)
These notes sit on F70-F79 and apply to every code under it, including F70.
Excludes1: not coded here, use a different code
- borderline intellectual functioning, IQ above 70 to 84 (R41.83)
Code first: code the underlying condition first, then this code
- any associated physical or developmental disorders
Official coding guidelines
From the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2027 (CMS and NCHS). Links open the PDF at the right page.
Covers psychological pain disorders, substance use, abuse, dependence and remission, factitious disorder including Munchausen by proxy, and dementia severity.
- Pain disorders related to psychological factors (page 43)
- Mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use (page 43)
- Factitious Disorder (page 44)
- Dementia (page 45)
Other codes under F70-F79
Intellectual Disabilities (F70-F79)
F70 MS-DRG
As the principal diagnosis, F70 groups to MS-DRG 884 (v44.0).
Related conditions
Grouped by AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR), which sorts every diagnosis code into clinically meaningful categories.
F70 is in Neurodevelopmental disorders (MBD014, its default category), with 57 codes. Others in it:
- F71 Moderate intellectual disabilities
- F72 Severe intellectual disabilities
- F73 Profound intellectual disabilities
- F78.A1 SYNGAP1-related intellectual disability
- F78.A9 Other genetic related intellectual disability
- F79 Unspecified intellectual disabilities
- F80.0 Phonological disorder
- F80.1 Expressive language disorder
Medicare coverage articles listing F70
These 10 Medicare billing and coding articles list F70 as a diagnosis that supports medical necessity for the services they cover. From the CMS Medicare Coverage Database; check your own contractor's article before billing.
- Psychiatry and Psychology Services (2 contractors)
- MRI and CT Scans of the Head and Neck
- Outpatient Psychiatry and Psychology Services
- Outpatient Psychotherapy
- Psychiatric Codes
- Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation and Psychotherapy Services
- Psychiatric Inpatient Hospitalization
- Psychiatric Partial Hospitalization Programs
- Psychological and Neuropsychological Tests
- Vestibular and Audiologic Function Studies
Other codes that refer to F70
Notes on these codes point to F70.
- E00 Use Additional Code: code (F70-F79) to identify associated intellectual disabilities.
- F80.0 Excludes2: speech articulation impairment due to intellectual disabilities (F70-F79)
- F80.1 Excludes2: intellectual disabilities (F70-F79)
- F80.2 Excludes2: intellectual disabilities (F70-F79)
- F82 Excludes2: lack of coordination secondary to intellectual disabilities (F70-F79)
- G93.45 Code Also: intellectual disabilities (F70-F79)
- Q87.85 Code Also: intellectual disability (F70-F79)
- Q87.87 Use Additional Code: intellectual disabilities (F70-F79)
- Q87.88 Use Additional Code: intellectual disability (F70-F79)
- Q90 Use Additional Code: code(s) to identify any associated degree of intellectual disabilities (F70-F79)
- Q93.52 Use Additional Code: degree of intellectual disabilities (F70-F79)
- QA0 Code Also: intellectual disabilities (F70-F79)
- R41.83 Excludes1: intellectual disabilities (F70-F79)
- Z15.1 Code Also: intellectual disabilities (F70-F79)
- Z81.0 Includes: Conditions classifiable to F70-F79
- Z91.83 Code First: intellectual disabilities (F70-F79)
About the condition
Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.
Developmental Disabilities
Developmental disabilities are conditions that are usually present at birth. They can affect a child's growth and development. These conditions can cause physical, learning, language, or behavior issues. They can include:
Read more about developmental disabilities on MedlinePlusCode history
Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Legacy crosswalk from the CMS General Equivalence Mappings (last updated 2018).
- 317 Mild intellectual disabilities