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F32.1 ICD-10-CM Code: Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate

F32.1 maps to CMS-HCC V28 155. A source-labeled RAF reference is available. Confirm the documented diagnosis and applicable coding requirements. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · free HCC coding tools

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Code lookupF32.1

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

F32.1

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

Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate

A first-time episode of major depression with moderate symptoms that cause noticeable difficulty with work, school, or daily activities.

Buddy the Bee presenting code insight

Buddy Insight

Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate represents a first-time major depressive episode with meaningful functional impairment in work, social, and personal domains.

CMS-HCC V28

HCC 155

Coefficient HCC 155: 0.299 (Community Non-Dual Aged (CNA))

CMS-HCC V24

Historical

Historical

Not used for CY2026 payment

ACA/HHS

N/A

Not mapped

ESRD/PACE

HCC 59

Code-level coefficient reference

RXHCC

HCC 132

Code-level coefficient reference

Inclusion Terms

Official

No inclusion terms are included in this display for F32.1. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Excludes 2

Official
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)Inherited from F01-F99, F32
  • adjustment disorder (F43.2)Inherited from F01-F99, F32

Includes

Official
  • disorders of psychological developmentInherited from F01-F99, F32
  • single episode of agitated depressionInherited from F01-F99, F32
  • single episode of depressive reactionInherited from F01-F99, F32
  • single episode of major depressionInherited from F01-F99, F32
  • single episode of psychogenic depressionInherited from F01-F99, F32
  • single episode of reactive depressionInherited from F01-F99, F32
  • single episode of vital depressionInherited from F01-F99, F32

Excludes 1

Official
  • bipolar disorder (F31.-)Inherited from F32
  • manic episode (F30.-)Inherited from F32
  • recurrent depressive disorder (F33.-)Inherited from F32

Code First

Official

No Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for F32.1. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Use Additional

Official

No Use Additional Code instructions are included in this display for F32.1. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Code Also

Official

No Code Also instructions are included in this display for F32.1. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance
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

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance
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

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance
Using single episode when chart shows prior episodes — should be recurrent (F33.1)
Defaulting to unspecified (F32.9) when moderate severity is clearly documented
Coding moderate when the provider's assessment and PHQ-9 scores suggest mild or severe
Not reconciling the provider's narrative severity with standardized screening scores

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance
F32.0 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, mild: Less functional impairment
F32.2 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe: More profound impairment without psychotic features
F33.1 — Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate: Prior depressive episodes documented
F32.9 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified: Use only when severity is not documented

Current with CMS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr 1 update (effective Apr 1 – Sep 30, 2026) · CMS-HCC V28, 100% phased in for payment year 2026. FY2027 code set already staged for October 1, 2026. How HCC Buddy stays current →

Is F32.1 an HCC code?

Yes. F32.1 (Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate) maps to HCC 155, Major Depression, Moderate or Severe, without Psychosis under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, with a source-labeled community non-dual aged reference coefficient of 0.299. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes. It is billable for payment year 2026.

Coder answer: F32.1 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 155, Major Depression, Moderate or Severe, without Psychosis. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.

Code
F32.1
Description
Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate
HCC (V28)
HCC 155 — Major Depression, Moderate or Severe, without Psychosis
RAF reference coefficient
0.299
Billable
Yes
Payment year
2026

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 155, Major Depression, Moderate or Severe, without Psychosis
0.299
ESRDHCC 59, Major Depressive/Bipolar/and Paranoid Disorders
Not separately weighted
RxHCCHCC 132, Depression
Not separately weighted

These are source-labeled model coefficients, not member totals. A category may still be removed by hierarchy or model cleanup rules. Weights are not directly comparable across models: CMS-HCC V28 and V24 use Community, Non-Dual, Aged; ESRD uses the dialysis continuing-enrollee model; RxHCC is the Part D continuing-enrollee, non-low-income, aged weight (a larger scale than CMS-HCC). ACA/HHS has no single weight — it varies by metal level. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains available for historical review.

Work F32.1 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT review for F32.1

For F32.1, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.

  • 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

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

F32.1 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate. A first-time episode of major depression with moderate symptoms that cause noticeable difficulty with work, school, or daily activities. F32.1 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders (f01-f99), within the section covering mood [affective] disorders (f30-f39).

Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, F32.1 maps to Major Depression, Moderate or Severe, without Psychosis (HCC 155) with a source-labeled community, non-dual, aged reference coefficient of 0.299. For CY2026 non-PACE Medicare Advantage, CMS uses 100% of the 2024 CMS-HCC model (V28). PACE uses a separate model blend. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes.

MDD, single episode, moderate, PHQ-9 in the 10-14 range or provider narrative indicating moderate severity. First depressive episode documented. For F32.1, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule. 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, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for F32.1 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

  • MDD, single episode, moderate, PHQ-9 in the 10-14 range or provider narrative indicating moderate severity. First depressive episode documented.
  • Do not use F32.1 when the patient has a history of prior depressive episodes documented in the chart. Use F33.1 for recurrent moderate MDD.

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 impairment
  • F32.2: Major depressive disorder, single episode, severe: More profound impairment without psychotic features
  • F33.1: Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate: Prior depressive episodes documented
  • F32.9: Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified: Use only when severity is not documented

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

F32Depressive episodeF32.1Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate
F32.1Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate

Also searched as

  • F32 1
  • F321

For F32.1, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.

F32.1 maps to CMS-HCC V28 category 155, Major Depression, Moderate or Severe, without Psychosis. See the ICD-10 to HCC mapping hub for how the V28 crosswalk works. The mapping identifies a payment HCC category for F32.1. Review its source-labeled HCC coefficient above, check the RAF Calculator with complete member context for CMS-HCC V28 PY2026, and confirm the documentation the chart needs before the code is submitted. HCC Buddy shows no RAF score unless every required source and calculation check passes.

More on F32.1

Code family

Every F32 code with its CMS-HCC V28 statusDepressive episode, 10 billable codes

Related condition guides

Referenced in blog posts

Work F32.1 in HCC Buddy

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