What is ICD-10 code F93.0?

F93.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Separation anxiety disorder of childhood. Excessive anxiety and distress in children when separated from parents or primary caregivers, often resulting in school refusal or reluctance to be away from home. F93.0 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. F93.0 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. F93.0 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. F93.0 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 F93.0?

F93.0 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 F93.0 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 F93.0?

Ensure documentation specifies this is a childhood disorder and includes onset before age 18 Differentiate from normal separation anxiety by documenting the excessive nature and functional impairment caused

F93.0: Separation anxiety disorder of childhood — ICD-10

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 lookupF93.0Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental disorders (F01-F99) / Behavioral and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence (F90-F98)

F93.0

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

Separation anxiety disorder of childhood

Excessive anxiety and distress in children when separated from parents or primary caregivers, often resulting in school refusal or reluctance to be away from home.

Buddy Insight

Separation anxiety disorder of childhood is characterized by developmentally inappropriate and excessive anxiety concerning separation from those to whom the child is attached.

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 133

Personality Disorders, Anxiet...

RAF 0.0

Code Trumping

Basket needed

Compare selected patient codes to show trumped or trumps impact.

Code Book Path

Official

F93Emotional disorders with onset specific to childhood

F93.0Separation anxiety disorder of childhood

Inclusion Terms

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for F93.0 in this effective period.

Excludes 2

Official

mood [affective] disorders (F30-F39)
nonpsychotic mental disorders (F40-F48)
phobic anxiety disorder of childhood (F40.8)
social phobia (F40.1)

Related Child Codes

Official

F93.8Other childhood emotional disorders

F93.9Childhood emotional disorder, unspecified

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for F93.0 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for F93.0 in this effective period.

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for F93.0 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for F93.0 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for F93.0 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Provider documentation of separation anxiety disorder diagnosis in a child

Evidence of developmentally inappropriate and excessive distress about separation from major attachment figures

Duration of at least 4 weeks in children and adolescents

Documentation of functional impairment (school refusal, inability to sleep alone, reluctance to attend activities)

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Provider documentation of separation anxiety disorder diagnosis in a child

Evidence of developmentally inappropriate and excessive distress about separation from major attachment figures

Duration of at least 4 weeks in children and adolescents

Documentation of functional impairment (school refusal, inability to sleep alone, reluctance to attend activities)

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Coding normal developmental separation anxiety in toddlers as a disorder — the behavior must be excessive for developmental stage

Using F41.1 (generalized anxiety) when the primary anxiety is specifically about separation

Not considering whether separation anxiety is a symptom of PTSD or adjustment disorder rather than a primary diagnosis

Failing to code F93.0 in school-age children presenting with school refusal when separation anxiety is the driving factor

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

F40.10 — Social phobia; social phobia involves fear of social situations, not separation from attachment figures

F41.1 — Generalized anxiety disorder; GAD involves worry about many topics, not specifically separation

F93.8 — Other childhood emotional disorders; for childhood emotional disorders not fitting specific categories

F94.x — Disorders of social functioning with onset specific to childhood; attachment disorders differ from separation anxiety

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 F93.0 an HCC code?

No. F93.0 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 133, Personality Disorders, Anxiety, and Other Specified Mental Disorders

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 F93.0 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT Criteria for F93.0

For F93.0to 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 F93.0 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

Coder workflow notes

Get the V28 RAF + MEAT cheat sheet

One printable page: confirm a code's V28 HCC status, its RAF weight, and the MEAT your note needs to make it stick. Free, no card.

Free PDF. No card. Unsubscribe anytime.

What This Code Means

F93.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for separation anxiety disorder of childhood. Excessive anxiety and distress in children when separated from parents or primary caregivers, often resulting in school refusal or reluctance to be away from home. F93.0 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders (f01-f99), within the section covering behavioral and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence (f90-f98).

F93.0 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.

F93.0 does not map to any HCC in V28 or V24 models. RxHCC maps to 133 (0.000). No risk adjustment impact. Accurate coding supports behavioral health treatment authorization for therapy. Coders reviewing F93.0 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 F93.0 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•Ensure documentation specifies this is a childhood disorder and includes onset before age 18
•Differentiate from normal separation anxiety by documenting the excessive nature and functional impairment caused

Clinical Significance

Separation anxiety disorder of childhood is characterized by developmentally inappropriate and excessive anxiety concerning separation from those to whom the child is attached. It goes beyond normal developmental separation anxiety and causes significant distress and functional impairment. It is the most common anxiety disorder in children under 12 and may persist into adulthood, predisposing to other anxiety disorders and depression.

Documentation Requirements

✓Provider documentation of separation anxiety disorder diagnosis in a child
✓Evidence of developmentally inappropriate and excessive distress about separation from major attachment figures
✓Duration of at least 4 weeks in children and adolescents
✓Documentation of functional impairment (school refusal, inability to sleep alone, reluctance to attend activities)
✓Assessment distinguishing from normal developmental separation anxiety and from other anxiety disorders

Excludes 2, Not included here, may code separately

mood [affective] disorders (F30-F39)
nonpsychotic mental disorders (F40-F48)
phobic anxiety disorder of childhood (F40.8)
social phobia (F40.1)

Commonly Confused Codes

•F40.10: Social phobia; social phobia involves fear of social situations, not separation from attachment figures
•F41.1: Generalized anxiety disorder; GAD involves worry about many topics, not specifically separation
•F93.8: Other childhood emotional disorders; for childhood emotional disorders not fitting specific categories
•F94.x: Disorders of social functioning with onset specific to childhood; attachment disorders differ from separation anxiety

Child Codes

F93.0Separation anxiety disorder of childhood

F93.8Other childhood emotional disorders

F93.9Childhood emotional disorder, unspecified

Code Hierarchy

└F93Emotional disorders with onset specific to childhood └F93.0Separation anxiety disorder of childhood

└F93.0Separation anxiety disorder of childhood

F93.0 ICD-10-CM Code: Separation anxiety disorder of childhood

HCC Buddy Code Card

F93.0

Is F93.0 an HCC code?

HCC Category Mapping

MEAT Criteria for F93.0

Get the V28 RAF + MEAT cheat sheet

What This Code Means

Coding Tips

Clinical Significance

Documentation Requirements

Excludes 2, Not included here, may code separately

Commonly Confused Codes

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

Work F93.0 in HCC Buddy