E71.448 ICD-10-CM Code: Other secondary carnitine deficiency
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FY 2026 Apr update / Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E89) / Metabolic disorders (E70-E88)
E71.448
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceOther secondary carnitine deficiency
A condition where the body doesn't have enough carnitine, a substance needed to break down fats for energy, due to secondary causes such as kidney disease or certain medications.
Buddy Insight
Other secondary carnitine deficiency encompasses acquired carnitine depletion from non-iatrogenic and non-genetic causes, including chronic kidney disease with renal carnitine wasting, malabsorption syndromes, inadequate dietary intake, or organic acid excretion disorders.
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 E71.448 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for E71.448 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for E71.448 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for E71.448 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for E71.448 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for E71.448 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for E71.448 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 E71.448 an HCC code?
Yes. E71.448 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 E71.448
For E71.448to 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 E71.448 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
E71.448 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other secondary carnitine deficiency. A condition where the body doesn't have enough carnitine, a substance needed to break down fats for energy, due to secondary causes such as kidney disease or certain medications. E71.448 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (e00-e89), within the section covering metabolic disorders (e70-e88).
Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, E71.448 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.
Identify and document the underlying cause of carnitine deficiency (e.g., chronic kidney disease, medication-induced) as this affects treatment approach. Because E71.448 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 E71.448 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Identify and document the underlying cause of carnitine deficiency (e.g., chronic kidney disease, medication-induced) as this affects treatment approach
- •Distinguish from primary carnitine deficiency (E71.40) which is genetic; secondary deficiency results from other medical conditions
Clinical Significance
Other secondary carnitine deficiency encompasses acquired carnitine depletion from non-iatrogenic and non-genetic causes, including chronic kidney disease with renal carnitine wasting, malabsorption syndromes, inadequate dietary intake, or organic acid excretion disorders. Carnitine depletion can compound the effects of the underlying condition, leading to muscle weakness, fatigue, and metabolic dysfunction. Identifying and treating the underlying cause alongside carnitine supplementation is essential.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Document the underlying cause of secondary carnitine deficiency, plasma carnitine levels (free and total), clinical symptoms attributable to carnitine depletion, and carnitine supplementation regimen.
- ✓Record the primary condition causing the deficiency and its current management status.