E27.3 ICD-10-CM Code: Drug-induced adrenocortical insufficiency
HCC Buddy Code Card
Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.
FY 2026 Apr update / Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E89) / Disorders of other endocrine glands (E20-E35)
E27.3
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceDrug-induced adrenocortical insufficiency
Adrenal gland failure caused by medications, most commonly corticosteroids used to treat other conditions.

Buddy Insight
Drug-induced adrenocortical insufficiency most commonly results from chronic exogenous glucocorticoid therapy that suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, causing adrenal atrophy.
CMS-HCC V28
00
RAF 0
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 23
RAF 0.230
ACA/HHS
00
RAF 0
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 23
RAF 0.0
RXHCC
MappedHCC 43
RAF 0.0
Code Trumping
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Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for E27.3 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for E27.3 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for E27.3 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for E27.3 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for E27.3 in this effective period.
Use Additional
Official- code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for E27.3 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.
Is E27.3 an HCC code?
Yes. E27.3 maps to Other Significant Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders under the V24 model but is not retained in V28.
HCC Category Mapping
RAF weights shown are the community, non-dual, aged base weights from the CMS risk adjustment model file. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member segment, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains in use during the transition and for historical data.
MEAT Criteria for E27.3
For E27.3to count as a valid HCC diagnosis in a given encounter, the provider's documentation must show MEAT: Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat. A diagnosis from a prior year does not carry forward automatically, it has to be re-documented and supported each calendar year.
- MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
- EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
- AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
- TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis
Only one of M/E/A/T is required to support the code, but the documentation must be specific enough to show that the provider actually addressed E27.3 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
E27.3 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for drug-induced adrenocortical insufficiency. Adrenal gland failure caused by medications, most commonly corticosteroids used to treat other conditions. E27.3 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (e00-e89), within the section covering disorders of other endocrine glands (e20-e35).
Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, E27.3 maps to Other Significant Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (HCC 23) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.230. V28 is the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model that reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition.
Always document the specific medication causing the insufficiency and code the drug interaction. Because E27.3 maps to a payment HCC, the provider's documentation must satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's Medicare Advantage risk adjustment score. When documentation is ambiguous, coders should issue a provider query rather than assume the highest-specificity variant.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for E27.3 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Always document the specific medication causing the insufficiency and code the drug interaction
- •Consider if this is reversible upon medication discontinuation versus permanent damage
Clinical Significance
Drug-induced adrenocortical insufficiency most commonly results from chronic exogenous glucocorticoid therapy that suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, causing adrenal atrophy. Upon abrupt discontinuation or dose reduction, patients lack the ability to mount an appropriate cortisol response to stress, risking adrenal crisis.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Document the specific causative medication, duration of use, dose at time of insufficiency onset, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels, adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test results, tapering plan, and whether the condition is expected to be reversible.