F32.9 is not a CMS-HCC payment code. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC coding software

ICD-10-CM Code View

HCC Buddy Code Card

Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.

Code lookupF32.9

Effective 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.

Overview Risk Models Code Book Documentation Audit Notes Edition comparison

CMS-HCC V28

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

CMS-HCC V24

Historical

Not used for standard CY2026 Medicare Advantage payment. Select a historical period to review V24.

Not used for CY2026 payment

ACA/HHS

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

ESRD/PACE

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

RXHCC

Mapped

HCC 132

Depression

Code-level coefficient reference

Code Book Path

Official

F32Depressive episode F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified

Inclusion Terms

Official

Major depression NOS

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

Related 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

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 F32.9. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Use Additional

Official

No Use Additional Code instructions are included in this display for F32.9. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Code Also

Official

No Code Also instructions are included in this display for F32.9. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

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

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 F32.9 an HCC code?

Code: F32.9
Description: Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
HCC (V28): No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
RAF reference coefficient: —
Billable: Yes
Payment year: 2026

HCC Category Mapping

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 F32.9 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT review for F32.9

For F32.9, 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

F32.9 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 has no mapping under the current CMS-HCC V28 community payment model. F32.9 has a separate mapping under the Part D RxHCC model (HCC 132 (Depression)); the applicable result needs member context. Do not assign V28 risk adjustment value from this page; verify the applicable model and payment year before using this code for risk adjustment.

This is a default code; strive to document severity (mild, moderate, severe) to use more specific codes.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, 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