Z59.41 Food insecurity

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026. Exempt from present-on-admission (POA) reporting.

Applies from Z59 Problems related to housing and economic circumstances

Excludes2 (not included here)

• problems related to upbringing (Z62.-)

Applies from Z59.4 Lack of adequate food

Excludes2 (not included here)

• deprivation of food (T73.0)
• effects of hunger (T73.0)
• inappropriate diet or eating habits (Z72.4)
• malnutrition (E40-E46)

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 951 in MDC 23.

Medicare Code Edits (MCE v43.1 (April 2026))

• Unacceptable principal diagnosis: These codes describe a circumstance which influences care but is not a current illness or injury, or capture only an underlying condition, and are unacceptable as principal diagnosis.

Code annotations containing back-references to Z59.41

Back-references to Z59.4

• Type 2 Excludes: Z59.12 Inadequate housing utilities ("lack of adequate food (Z59.4-)")
• Code Also: Z91.11 Patient's noncompliance with dietary regimen (", if applicable, food insecurity (Z59.4-)")
• Code Also: Z91.A1 Caregiver's noncompliance with patient's dietary regimen (", if applicable, food insecurity (Z59.4-)")

Back-references to Z59

• Type 2 Excludes: Z56 Problems related to employment and unemployment ("problems related to housing and economic circumstances (Z59.-)")
• Type 2 Excludes: Z62 Problems related to upbringing ("problems related to housing and economic circumstances (Z59.-)")
• Type 2 Excludes: Z72 Problems related to lifestyle ("problems related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances (Z55-Z65)")
• Type 2 Excludes: Z73 Problems related to life management difficulty ("problems related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances (Z55-Z65)")

Diagnosis Index entries for Z59.41

• Food › insecurity
• Insecurity › food

Nearby codes

• Z59.12 Inadequate housing utilities
• Z59.19 Other inadequate housing
• Z59.2 Discord with neighbors, lodgers and landlord
• Z59.3 Problems related to living in residential institution
• Z59.4 Lack of adequate food
• Z59.41 Food insecurity (this code)
• Z59.48 Other specified lack of adequate food
• Z59.5 Extreme poverty
• Z59.6 Low income
• Z59.7 Insufficient social insurance and welfare support
• Z59.71 Insufficient health insurance coverage