E44.0 ICD-10-CM Code: Moderate protein-calorie malnutrition
HCC Buddy Code Card
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FY 2026 Apr update / Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E89) / Malnutrition (E40-E46)
E44.0
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceModerate protein-calorie malnutrition
Moderate malnutrition due to inadequate protein and calories, less severe than the kwashiorkor/marasmus spectrum.
Buddy Insight
Moderate protein-calorie malnutrition represents a significant nutritional deficit where the patient shows measurable loss of body weight and muscle mass but retains some nutritional reserves, distinguishing it from severe forms.
CMS-HCC V28
00
RAF 0
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 21
RAF 0.455
ACA/HHS
00
RAF 0
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 21
RAF 0.0
RXHCC
00
RAF 0
Code Trumping
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Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for E44.0 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for E44.0 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for E44.0 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for E44.0 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for E44.0 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for E44.0 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for E44.0 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 E44.0 an HCC code?
Yes. E44.0 maps to Protein-Calorie Malnutrition 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.
Work E44.0 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT Criteria for E44.0
For E44.0to 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 E44.0 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
E44.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for moderate protein-calorie malnutrition. Moderate malnutrition due to inadequate protein and calories, less severe than the kwashiorkor/marasmus spectrum. E44.0 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (e00-e89), within the section covering malnutrition (e40-e46).
Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, E44.0 maps to Protein-Calorie Malnutrition (HCC 21) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.455. 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.
Moderate malnutrition indicates the patient has some nutritional reserves remaining, unlike severe malnutrition. Because E44.0 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 E44.0 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Moderate malnutrition indicates the patient has some nutritional reserves remaining, unlike severe malnutrition
- •Document the BMI or weight-for-height measurements to support the moderate classification
Clinical Significance
Moderate protein-calorie malnutrition represents a significant nutritional deficit where the patient shows measurable loss of body weight and muscle mass but retains some nutritional reserves, distinguishing it from severe forms. This condition is commonly encountered in hospitalized elderly patients, those with chronic diseases, and patients recovering from surgery, and it increases the risk of infection, poor wound healing, and prolonged hospital stays.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation must include objective measures supporting moderate severity: body mass index between 16-16.9, unintentional weight loss of 5-10% over 3-6 months, albumin between 2.5-3.5 g/dL, or moderate muscle wasting on physical exam.
- ✓A validated nutritional screening tool score (such as Subjective Global Assessment rating B) strengthens documentation.
- ✓The provider must explicitly state the severity as moderate and document the underlying cause.
Commonly Confused Codes
- •E44.1 (Mild protein-calorie malnutrition) represents less severe involvement.
- •E40-E43 (Severe malnutrition codes) require more advanced findings.
- •E46 (Unspecified protein-calorie malnutrition) does not specify severity.
- •R63.4 (Abnormal weight loss) captures the symptom without the malnutrition diagnosis.
- •T73.0 (Effects of hunger) has different coding implications.