E44.1 ICD-10-CM Code: Mild protein-calorie malnutrition
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) / Malnutrition (E40-E46)
E44.1
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceMild protein-calorie malnutrition
Mild malnutrition due to inadequate protein and calories, representing the least severe form of protein-calorie malnutrition.
Buddy Insight
Mild protein-calorie malnutrition represents early-stage nutritional deficiency where the patient shows subtle signs of inadequate protein and calorie intake.
CMS-HCC V28
00
RAF 0
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 21
RAF 0.545
ACA/HHS
00
RAF 0
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 21
RAF 0.0
RXHCC
00
RAF 0
Code Trumping
Basket needed
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for E44.1 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for E44.1 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for E44.1 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for E44.1 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for E44.1 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for E44.1 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for E44.1 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 E44.1 an HCC code?
Yes. E44.1 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.
MEAT Criteria for E44.1
For E44.1to 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 E44.1 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
Coder workflow notes
Get the V28 RAF + MEAT cheat sheet
One printable page: confirm a code's V28 HCC status, its RAF weight, and the MEAT your note needs to make it stick. Free, no card.
Free PDF. No card. Unsubscribe anytime.
What This Code Means
E44.1 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for mild protein-calorie malnutrition. Mild malnutrition due to inadequate protein and calories, representing the least severe form of protein-calorie malnutrition. E44.1 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, E44.1 maps to Protein-Calorie Malnutrition (HCC 21) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.545. 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.
Mild malnutrition may be asymptomatic or present with subtle signs; ensure clinical documentation supports this level of severity. Because E44.1 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 E44.1 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Mild malnutrition may be asymptomatic or present with subtle signs; ensure clinical documentation supports this level of severity
- •Consider whether the patient might benefit from nutritional counseling and monitoring
Clinical Significance
Mild protein-calorie malnutrition represents early-stage nutritional deficiency where the patient shows subtle signs of inadequate protein and calorie intake. While less immediately dangerous than moderate or severe forms, mild malnutrition still increases vulnerability to infections, impairs wound healing, and can progress to more severe malnutrition if not addressed through dietary counseling and nutritional supplementation.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation should include objective findings supporting mild severity: body mass index between 17-18.4, weight loss of 1-5% over a defined period, mildly reduced albumin or prealbumin, or mild muscle wasting.
- ✓The provider must explicitly state the severity as mild and document the clinical basis for the malnutrition diagnosis.
- ✓Nutritional screening tool results and a dietary plan should be noted.
Commonly Confused Codes
- •E44.0 (Moderate protein-calorie malnutrition) involves greater severity.
- •E46 (Unspecified protein-calorie malnutrition) does not specify severity.
- •R63.6 (Underweight) captures low body weight without a malnutrition diagnosis.
- •R63.4 (Abnormal weight loss) is a symptom code, not a diagnosis of malnutrition.
- •Z71.3 (Dietary counseling and surveillance) may be coded additionally.