F53.0 ICD-10-CM Code: Postpartum depression
F53.0 is not a CMS-HCC payment code. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC coding software
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FY 2026 Apr update / Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental disorders (F01-F99) / Behavioral syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors (F50-F59)
F53.0
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidancePostpartum depression
Depression that develops in a woman after giving birth, typically within the first few weeks or months postpartum. It involves persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty caring for the newborn.
Buddy Insight
Postpartum depression is a major depressive episode with onset during pregnancy or within four weeks of delivery, affecting approximately 10-15% of new mothers.
CMS-HCC V28
N/A—
Not mapped
CMS-HCC V24
HistoricalHistorical
Not used for CY2026 payment
ACA/HHS
N/A—
Not mapped
ESRD/PACE
N/A—
Not mapped
RXHCC
Context neededHCC 132
Coefficient needs member context
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
Official- Postnatal depression, NOS
- Postpartum depression, NOS
Excludes 2
Official- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)Inherited from F01-F99
Related Codes
Includes
Official- disorders of psychological developmentInherited from F01-F99
Excludes 1
Official- mood disorders with psychotic features (F30.2, F31.2, F31.5, F31.64, F32.3, F33.3)Inherited from F53
- postpartum dysphoria (O90.6)Inherited from F53
- psychosis in schizophrenia, schizotypal, delusional, and other psychotic disorders (F20-F29)Inherited from F53
Code First
OfficialNo Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for F53.0. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Use Additional
OfficialNo Use Additional Code instructions are included in this display for F53.0. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Code Also
OfficialNo Code Also instructions are included in this display for F53.0. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
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 F53.0 an HCC code?
F53.0 has no mapping under the current CMS-HCC V28 community payment model. F53.0 has a separate mapping under the Part D RxHCC model (HCC 132 (Depression)); the applicable result needs member context.
- Code
- F53.0
- Description
- Postpartum depression
- HCC (V28)
- No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
- RAF reference coefficient
- —
- Billable
- Yes
- Payment year
- 2026
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
F53.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for postpartum depression. Depression that develops in a woman after giving birth, typically within the first few weeks or months postpartum. It involves persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty caring for the newborn. F53.0 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders (f01-f99), within the section covering behavioral syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors (f50-f59).
F53.0 has no mapping under the current CMS-HCC V28 community payment model. F53.0 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.
Ensure the depression onset is clearly documented as occurring within the postpartum period (typically up to one year after delivery).
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for F53.0 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Ensure the depression onset is clearly documented as occurring within the postpartum period (typically up to one year after delivery)
- •Do not use this code if depression existed before pregnancy; use appropriate depressive disorder codes instead
Clinical Significance
Postpartum depression is a major depressive episode with onset during pregnancy or within four weeks of delivery, affecting approximately 10-15% of new mothers. It can severely impair maternal-infant bonding, childcare capacity, and maternal functioning. This condition requires active treatment and monitoring due to risks of self-harm and, in severe cases, progression to puerperal psychosis.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of depressive symptoms meeting criteria for a major depressive episode
- ✓Temporal relationship to pregnancy or delivery (onset during pregnancy or within the postpartum period)
- ✓Assessment of severity and functional impairment including impact on infant care
- ✓Screening for suicidal ideation and risk of harm to self or infant
- ✓Treatment plan including consideration of breastfeeding-compatible medications if applicable
Commonly Confused Codes
- •F32.x (Major depressive disorder, single episode): use when depression is NOT temporally related to pregnancy/delivery
- •F53.1 (Puerperal psychosis): more severe condition with psychotic features (hallucinations, delusions), not just depression
- •O99.340-O99.345 (Other mental disorders complicating pregnancy/puerperium): obstetric codes for mental disorders during pregnancy
- •F32.A (Depression, unspecified): nonspecific depression code, not postpartum-specific
- •O90.6 (Postpartum mood disturbance): 'baby blues' which is milder and transient, not clinical depression