What is ICD-10 code F98.3?

F98.3 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Pica of infancy and childhood. A persistent eating disorder in children characterized by the consumption of non-food items such as dirt, paint, paper, or other non-nutritive substances. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders (f01-f99). F98.3 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. F98.3 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. F98.3 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. F98.3 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.

Which HCC does F98.3 map to under V28?

F98.3 has no payable CMS-HCC V28 mapping in the final FY2026 CMS file.

What RAF reference is published for F98.3?

F98.3 has no V28 reference coefficient because the final FY2026 source verifies no payable V28 mapping.

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for F98.3?

F98.3 has verified no payable V28 mapping in the final FY2026 source. Select a historical effective period before making any V24 comparison.

What documentation supports F98.3?

Confirm that pica is not secondary to nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc) or other medical conditions before coding Document the specific substances being consumed and the frequency and duration of the behavior F98.3 is not a CMS-HCC V28 payment code in the verified current source, so MEAT is not the payment hook. Documentation still has to support the diagnosis if you report it.

2026 ICD-10-CM F98.3: Pica of infancy and childhood

F98.3 is not a CMS-HCC payment code. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC coding software

ICD-10-CM Code View

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Code lookupF98.3Effective 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)

F98.3

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

Pica of infancy and childhood

A persistent eating disorder in children characterized by the consumption of non-food items such as dirt, paint, paper, or other non-nutritive substances.

Buddy Insight

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 133

Anxiety and Other Psychiatric...

Code-level coefficient reference

Code Book Path

Official

F98Other behavioral and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence

F98.3Pica of infancy and childhood

Inclusion Terms

Official

Pica in infancy or childhood, in remission

Excludes 2

Official

breath-holding spells (R06.89)
gender identity disorder of childhood (F64.2)
Kleine-Levin syndrome (G47.13)
obsessive-compulsive disorder (F42.-)
sleep disorders not due to a substance or known physiological condition (F51.-)

Related Child Codes

Official

F98.0Enuresis not due to a substance or known physiological condition

F98.1Encopresis not due to a substance or known physiological condition

F98.2Other feeding disorders of infancy and childhood

F98.4Stereotyped movement disorders

F98.5Adult onset fluency disorder

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for F98.3 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

pica in adults (F50.83)

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for F98.3 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for F98.3 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for F98.3 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Specific non-food substances being consumed (dirt, paint, paper, etc.)

Duration and frequency of pica behavior

Age of onset and developmental context

Ruling out or documenting associated nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc)

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Specific non-food substances being consumed (dirt, paint, paper, etc.)

Duration and frequency of pica behavior

Age of onset and developmental context

Ruling out or documenting associated nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc)

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Coding pica when the behavior is secondary to iron deficiency anemia without documenting the behavioral disorder separately

Using this code for adults — F50.89 is more appropriate for pica beyond childhood

Failing to code associated conditions like lead poisoning (T56.0X) or intestinal obstruction when present

Not differentiating from normal mouthing behavior in infants under 2 years of age

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

F50.89 — Other specified eating disorder: used for adults with pica or atypical eating patterns, not childhood-onset pica

F98.29 — Other feeding disorders of infancy and early childhood: covers feeding refusal or selective eating, not ingestion of non-food items

F98.21 — Rumination disorder of infancy: involves regurgitation and re-chewing of food, not consumption of non-nutritive substances

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 F98.3 an HCC code?

F98.3 is not in the CMS-HCC V28 or V24 community payment model. F98.3 has a separate mapping under the Part D RxHCC model (HCC 133 (Anxiety and Other Psychiatric Disorders)); the applicable result needs member context.

Code: F98.3
Description: Pica of infancy and childhood
HCC (V28): No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
RAF reference coefficient: —
Billable: Yes
Payment year: 2026

HCC Category Mapping

RxHCCHCC 133, Anxiety and Other Psychiatric Disorders

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 F98.3 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT Criteria for F98.3

For F98.3 to 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 F98.3 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

F98.3 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for pica of infancy and childhood. A persistent eating disorder in children characterized by the consumption of non-food items such as dirt, paint, paper, or other non-nutritive substances. F98.3 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).

F98.3 has no mapping under the CMS-HCC V28 or V24 community payment models. F98.3 has a separate mapping under the Part D RxHCC model (HCC 133 (Anxiety and Other Psychiatric Disorders)); 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.

Confirm that pica is not secondary to nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc) or other medical conditions before coding.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for F98.3 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•Confirm that pica is not secondary to nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc) or other medical conditions before coding
•Document the specific substances being consumed and the frequency and duration of the behavior

Clinical Significance

Pica of infancy and childhood is significant for risk adjustment as it signals underlying nutritional deficiencies, developmental disorders, or environmental neglect that drive healthcare utilization. Accurate capture ensures appropriate resource allocation for behavioral health interventions and monitoring for complications such as lead poisoning or intestinal obstruction.

Documentation Requirements

✓Specific non-food substances being consumed (dirt, paint, paper, etc.)
✓Duration and frequency of pica behavior
✓Age of onset and developmental context
✓Ruling out or documenting associated nutritional deficiencies (iron, zinc)
✓Assessment for co-occurring developmental or intellectual disabilities
✓Any complications from ingestion (lead levels, gastrointestinal issues)

Excludes 1, Do NOT code together

pica in adults (F50.83)

Commonly Confused Codes

•F50.89: Other specified eating disorder: used for adults with pica or atypical eating patterns, not childhood-onset pica
•F98.29: Other feeding disorders of infancy and early childhood: covers feeding refusal or selective eating, not ingestion of non-food items
•F98.21: Rumination disorder of infancy: involves regurgitation and re-chewing of food, not consumption of non-nutritive substances