What is ICD-10 code F32.9?

F32.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified. A first episode of major depression where the severity level or specific features are not documented or specified. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders (f01-f99). F32.9 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. F32.9 is part of the FY2026 ICD-10-CM code set published by the CMS National Center for Health Statistics and used on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial claims in the United States.

Yes. F32.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can be reported on professional and institutional claims as a primary or secondary diagnosis when the provider documentation supports the specific condition described. Billable codes in ICD-10-CM are coded to the highest level of specificity available for the documented diagnosis. F32.9 is current for fiscal year 2026 and remains in the active CMS ICD-10-CM code set published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for F32.9?

F32.9 does not map to a payment HCC under either the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model or the older V24 model. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition. Because neither model rewards F32.9 with a risk adjustment factor, it contributes zero to a Medicare Advantage beneficiary's RAF score in either version. Coders should check whether provider documentation supports a more specific child code that does map to a payment HCC.

What should coders know when reporting F32.9?

This is a default code; strive to document severity (mild, moderate, severe) to use more specific codes Query provider if severity is unclear to allow for more precise coding

F32.9 ICD-10 Code: Major depressive disorder

ICD-10-CM Code View

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Code lookupF32.9Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental disorders (F01-F99) / Mood [affective] disorders (F30-F39)

F32.9

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified

A first episode of major depression where the severity level or specific features are not documented or specified.

Buddy Insight

Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified is used when the provider documents a single-episode major depression without specifying the severity level.

CMS-HCC V28

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

CMS-HCC V24

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

ACA/HHS

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

ESRD/PACE

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

RXHCC

Mapped

HCC 132

Major Depressive Disorder and...

RAF 0.0

Code Trumping

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Code Book Path

Official

F32Depressive episode

F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified

Inclusion Terms

Official

Major depression NOS

Excludes 2

Official

adjustment disorder (F43.2)

Related Child Codes

Official

F32.0Major depressive disorder, single episode, mild

F32.1Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate

F32.2Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe without psychotic features

F32.3Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe with psychotic features

F32.4Major depressive disorder, single episode, in partial remission

Includes

Official

single episode of agitated depression
single episode of depressive reaction
single episode of major depression
single episode of psychogenic depression
single episode of reactive depression

Excludes 1

Official

bipolar disorder (F31.-)
manic episode (F30.-)
recurrent depressive disorder (F33.-)

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for F32.9 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for F32.9 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for F32.9 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Provider documentation of major depressive disorder diagnosis

Confirmation that this is a single (first) episode

Query provider for severity — mild, moderate, severe, or with/without psychotic features

Core depressive symptoms documented (depressed mood, anhedonia, plus supporting criteria)

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Provider documentation of major depressive disorder diagnosis

Confirmation that this is a single (first) episode

Query provider for severity — mild, moderate, severe, or with/without psychotic features

Core depressive symptoms documented (depressed mood, anhedonia, plus supporting criteria)

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Using F32.9 when severity documentation is available in the chart — always check for severity indicators

Not querying the provider for severity, which results in missed coding specificity

Using this code for depressed mood that does not meet MDD criteria

Coding as single episode when prior depressive episodes exist in the chart

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

F32.0-F32.3 — Severity-specific single episode MDD codes: Use when severity is documented

F32.A — Depression, unspecified: Even less specific, does not confirm MDD

F33.9 — Major depressive disorder, recurrent, unspecified: Use when prior episodes are documented

F32.89 — Other specified depressive episodes: Use when the presentation is described but does not meet standard MDD criteria

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 F32.9 an HCC code?

No. F32.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any HCC category in V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC.

HCC Category Mapping

RxHCCHCC 132, Major Depressive Disorder and Other Mood Disorders

0.000

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 F32.9

For F32.9to 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 F32.9 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

What This Code Means

F32.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified. A first episode of major depression where the severity level or specific features are not documented or specified. F32.9 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders (f01-f99), within the section covering mood [affective] disorders (f30-f39).

F32.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to a payment HCC under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions but it does not contribute to a beneficiary's RAF score and therefore does not affect risk-adjusted payments to the plan.

Does NOT map to any HCC in V28 or V24 (no RAF contribution in either model). This is a critical finding — unspecified severity single-episode MDD has NO risk adjustment value in either model. Specifying moderate (F32.1) would capture HCC 155 in V28 (RAF 0.425) and HCC 59 in V24 (RAF 0.309). Always query for severity.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for F32.9 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•This is a default code; strive to document severity (mild, moderate, severe) to use more specific codes
•Query provider if severity is unclear to allow for more precise coding

Clinical Significance

Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified is used when the provider documents a single-episode major depression without specifying the severity level. This represents a documentation improvement opportunity, as specifying severity (mild, moderate, severe) enables more specific coding with different HCC implications. This code is commonly overused when more specific codes are available.

Documentation Requirements

✓Provider documentation of major depressive disorder diagnosis
✓Confirmation that this is a single (first) episode
✓Query provider for severity — mild, moderate, severe, or with/without psychotic features
✓Core depressive symptoms documented (depressed mood, anhedonia, plus supporting criteria)
✓Treatment plan consistent with MDD

Commonly Confused Codes

•F32.0-F32.3 — Severity-specific single episode MDD codes: Use when severity is documented
•F32.A — Depression, unspecified: Even less specific, does not confirm MDD
•F33.9 — Major depressive disorder, recurrent, unspecified: Use when prior episodes are documented
•F32.89 — Other specified depressive episodes: Use when the presentation is described but does not meet standard MDD criteria