F32.1
BillableMajor depressive disorder, single episode, moderate
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 155 — Major Depressive, Bipolar, and Paranoid Disorders
0.425V24HCC 59 — Major Depressive, Bipolar, and Paranoid Disorders
0.309ESRDHCC 59 — Major Depressive, Bipolar, and Paranoid Disorders
0.000RxHCCHCC 132 — Major Depressive Disorder and Other Mood Disorders
0.000What This Code Means
A first-time episode of major depression with moderate symptoms that cause noticeable difficulty with work, school, or daily activities.
Coding Tips
- •Moderate severity indicates more significant functional impairment than mild but less than severe
- •Document specific depressive symptoms (sleep changes, appetite changes, concentration problems, etc.) to support severity level
Clinical Significance
Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate represents a first-time major depressive episode with meaningful functional impairment in work, social, and personal domains. Moderate severity indicates the patient is struggling significantly but can still perform some daily functions. This severity level typically drives active treatment with antidepressants and/or psychotherapy.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Provider documentation of major depressive disorder meeting diagnostic criteria
- ✓Single (first) episode confirmed through history review
- ✓Moderate severity explicitly documented with functional impairment described
- ✓Core depressive symptoms documented with at least 5 of 9 criteria met
- ✓Duration of at least 2 weeks
- ✓Treatment plan appropriate for moderate depression
Commonly Confused Codes
F32.0 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, mild: Less functional impairmentF32.2 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe: More profound impairment without psychotic featuresF33.1 — Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate: Prior depressive episodes documentedF32.9 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified: Use only when severity is not documented
Code Hierarchy
└F32Depressive episode└F32.1Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate
└F32.1Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate