F19.20
BillableOther psychoactive substance dependence, uncomplicated
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is F19.20 an HCC code?
Yes. F19.20 maps to Drug Use Disorder/Substance Use Disorder, Moderate/Severe under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Drug/Alcohol Dependence under V24).
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 F19.20
For F19.20 to 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 F19.20 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
F19.20 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other psychoactive substance dependence, uncomplicated. This code describes a person who is dependent on a psychoactive substance (such as inhalants, hallucinogens, or other drugs not specified elsewhere) without any current complications like withdrawal symptoms or behavioral problems. It indicates an ongoing substance use disorder that is stable or uncomplicated at the time of diagnosis. F19.20 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders (f01-f99), within the section covering mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use (f10-f19).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, F19.20 maps to Drug Use Disorder/Substance Use Disorder, Moderate/Severe (HCC 137) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.358. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, F19.20 maps to Drug/Alcohol Dependence (HCC 55) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.334. 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.
Use this code only when the substance dependence is documented as 'uncomplicated' - if there are complications such as withdrawal, intoxication, or behavioral disturbances, use a more specific code from the F19.2x series. Because F19.20 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 F19.20 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code only when the substance dependence is documented as 'uncomplicated' - if there are complications such as withdrawal, intoxication, or behavioral disturbances, use a more specific code from the F19.2x series
- •The 'F19' category is for 'other psychoactive substances' - verify the specific substance is not better classified under F10-F18 (alcohol, opioids, cannabis, stimulants, etc.) before assigning this code
Clinical Significance
This code identifies uncomplicated other psychoactive substance dependence without current complications, intoxication, or withdrawal. While representing the baseline severity of the substance use disorder, it captures an ongoing condition requiring monitoring, counseling, and treatment planning. Accurate documentation supports risk adjustment for the elevated healthcare needs associated with active substance use disorders.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Provider documentation specifying the psychoactive substance(s) involved (e.g., designer drugs, bath salts, kratom, polysubstance use)
- ✓Clinical documentation supporting dependence criteria: tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, compulsive use despite harm, or inability to control use
- ✓Assessment and plan addressing the substance use disorder with treatment approach documented