Z59.41 Food insecurity

The ICD-10-CM code for Food insecurity is Z59.41 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.

Classification

Chapter

21: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services (Z00-Z99)

Section

Z55-Z65: Persons with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances (Z55-Z65)

Category Z59

33 codes (25 billable)

FY2026 Status

Stable since FY2024

Also Known As

ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to Z59.41:

• Insecurity › food
• Food › insecurity

U.S. Hospital Utilization

• An estimated 91,000 U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 included Z59.41 among the documented diagnoses.

Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.

Official Coding Guidelines

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)—when/how to assign Z codes

17) Social Determinants of Health Social determinants of health (SDOH) codes describing social problems, conditions, or risk factors that influence a patient’s health should be assigned when this information is documented in the patient’s medical record. Assign as many SDOH codes as are necessary to describe all of the social problems, conditions, or risk factors documented during the current episode of care. For example, a patient who lives alone may suffer an acute injury temporarily impacting their ability to perform routine activities of daily living. When documented as such, this would support assignment of code Z60.2, Problems related to living alone. However, merely living alone, without documentation of a risk or unmet need for assistance at home, would not support assignment of code Z60.2. Documentation by a clinician (or patient-reported information that is signed off by a clinician) that the patient expressed concerns with access and availability of food would support assignment of code Z59.41, Food insecurity. Similarly, medical record documentation

Used with any code in range A00.0-T88.9, Z00-Z99

1) Used with any code in the range of A00.0-T88.9, Z00-Z99 An external cause code may be used with any code in the range of A00.0-T88.9, Z00-Z99, classification that represents a health condition due to an external cause. Though they are most applicable to injuries, they are also valid for use with such things as infections or diseases due to an external source, and other health conditions, such as a heart attack that occurs during strenuous physical activity.

Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026

References

• CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Code Set and Guidelines, FY2026
• CDC/NCHS — ICD-10-CM Files and Browser Tool
• AHRQ — HCUP National Inpatient Sample, Frequencies by Diagnosis Code (2016–2023)