What is ICD-10 code F70?

F70 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Mild intellectual disabilities. A developmental condition where a person has mild intellectual disability, meaning they have below-average intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior limitations but can often live independently with some support. F70 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. F70 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. F70 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. F70 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 F70?

F70 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 F70 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 F70?

Verify IQ testing results and adaptive functioning assessments are documented Confirm the condition originated during the developmental period (before age 18)

F70: Mild intellectual disabilities — ICD-10

ICD-10-CM Code View

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Code lookupF70Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental disorders (F01-F99) / Intellectual Disabilities (F70-F79)

F70

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

Mild intellectual disabilities

A developmental condition where a person has mild intellectual disability, meaning they have below-average intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior limitations but can often live independently with some support.

Buddy Insight

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 148

Mild Intellectual Disabilities

RAF 0.0

Code Trumping

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Code Book Path

Official

F7Intellectual Disabilities (F70-F79)

F70Mild intellectual disabilities

Inclusion Terms

Official

IQ level 50-55 to approximately 70
Mild mental subnormality

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for F70 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list child codes under F70 for this display context.

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for F70 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for F70 in this effective period.

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for F70 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for F70 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for F70 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Provider documentation of intellectual disability with specification of severity as mild

Formal cognitive testing results (IQ approximately 50-69) or clinical assessment supporting the severity level

Documentation of adaptive functioning deficits in conceptual, social, or practical domains

Assessment of the impact on the patient's ability to manage their healthcare and daily living activities

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Provider documentation of intellectual disability with specification of severity as mild

Formal cognitive testing results (IQ approximately 50-69) or clinical assessment supporting the severity level

Documentation of adaptive functioning deficits in conceptual, social, or practical domains

Assessment of the impact on the patient's ability to manage their healthcare and daily living activities

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Using F79 (unspecified) when the provider has documented mild intellectual disability

Confusing mild intellectual disability with specific learning disabilities (dyslexia, dyscalculia) which are coded differently

Coding intellectual disability based on educational placement alone without clinical diagnostic documentation

Failing to report intellectual disability as a current condition when it was diagnosed in childhood — it is a lifelong condition

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

F71 — Moderate intellectual disabilities; moderate ID involves IQ approximately 35-49 with more significant support needs

F79 — Unspecified intellectual disabilities; use F70 when mild severity is documented, not the unspecified code

F81.x — Specific developmental disorders of scholastic skills; learning disabilities are specific skill deficits, not global intellectual disability

F88 — Other disorders of psychological development; developmental delays may not meet criteria for intellectual disability

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 F70 an HCC code?

No. F70 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 148, Mild Intellectual Disabilities

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.

Work F70 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT Criteria for F70

For F70to 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 F70 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

F70 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for mild intellectual disabilities. A developmental condition where a person has mild intellectual disability, meaning they have below-average intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior limitations but can often live independently with some support. F70 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders (f01-f99), within the section covering intellectual disabilities (f70-f79).

F70 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.

This code does not map to a CMS-HCC V28 payment category. Capture depends on documentation that supports the diagnosis; verify the HCC assignment against the current CMS mapping for the applicable payment year. Coders reviewing F70 should check whether additional documentation would support a more specific child code in the same hierarchy that does map to a payment HCC, capturing the correct specificity is the highest-impact RAF improvement available within accurate coding.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for F70 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•Verify IQ testing results and adaptive functioning assessments are documented
•Confirm the condition originated during the developmental period (before age 18)

Clinical Significance

Mild intellectual disability represents an IQ range of approximately 50-69, with the individual typically able to acquire practical skills and functional literacy but requiring some support in complex daily living tasks. These patients have increased healthcare needs related to communication barriers, difficulty understanding medical instructions, and higher rates of comorbid psychiatric and medical conditions. Proper coding supports appropriate care coordination.

Documentation Requirements

✓Provider documentation of intellectual disability with specification of severity as mild
✓Formal cognitive testing results (IQ approximately 50-69) or clinical assessment supporting the severity level
✓Documentation of adaptive functioning deficits in conceptual, social, or practical domains
✓Assessment of the impact on the patient's ability to manage their healthcare and daily living activities
✓Documentation of any comorbid conditions and current support services

Commonly Confused Codes

•F71: Moderate intellectual disabilities; moderate ID involves IQ approximately 35-49 with more significant support needs
•F79: Unspecified intellectual disabilities; use F70 when mild severity is documented, not the unspecified code
•F81.x: Specific developmental disorders of scholastic skills; learning disabilities are specific skill deficits, not global intellectual disability
•F88: Other disorders of psychological development; developmental delays may not meet criteria for intellectual disability

Code Hierarchy

└F70Mild intellectual disabilities

F70 ICD-10-CM Code: Mild intellectual disabilities

HCC Buddy Code Card

F70

Is F70 an HCC code?

HCC Category Mapping

MEAT Criteria for F70

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What This Code Means

Coding Tips

Clinical Significance

Documentation Requirements

Commonly Confused Codes

Code Hierarchy

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