F33.1
BillableMajor depressive disorder, recurrent, 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
Multiple episodes of depression throughout a person's life with moderate symptoms that noticeably affect daily functioning.
Coding Tips
- •Verify at least two prior episodes; document current episode severity as moderate
- •Assess functional impairment to confirm moderate rather than mild or severe classification
Clinical Significance
Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate represents a pattern of repeated major depressive episodes with the current episode causing meaningful functional impairment. Recurrent moderate depression indicates a chronic relapsing condition requiring ongoing medication management and typically longer treatment courses. This pattern significantly impacts quality of life, work productivity, and healthcare utilization.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Provider documentation of major depressive disorder with recurrent episodes
- ✓History of at least two separate major depressive episodes
- ✓Current episode documented as moderate severity
- ✓Functional impairment in work, social, or personal domains documented
- ✓Current treatment plan including antidepressants and/or psychotherapy
- ✓Assessment of treatment response
Commonly Confused Codes
F32.1 — Major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate: Only one lifetime episodeF33.0 — Major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild: Less functional impairmentF33.2 — Major depressive disorder, recurrent, severe: More profound impairmentF34.1 — Dysthymic disorder: Chronic persistent depression without episodic recurrence
Code Hierarchy
└F33Major depressive disorder, recurrent└F33.1Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate
└F33.1Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate