Recent updates to ICD-10-CM, effective October 1, 2024, have introduced significant changes, especially in Chapter 5 – Mental and Behavioral Disorders. A medical coder’s role is crucial in implementing these updates, which are a significant step towards improving the accuracy and efficacy of mental health disorder reporting. The 2025 revision of ICD-10-CM has made notable additions and revisions in the classification of eating disorders. These updates refine the diagnostic criteria and add new codes to specify the type and severity of eating disorder allowing the classification to encompass a broader spectrum of conditions. The focus on specifying type and severity aims to enhance clinical reporting and treatment approaches.
Examples of New Codes for Eating Disorders
F50.010 - Anorexia Nervosa, Restricting Type, Mild
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a distorted body image and an unwarranted fear of gaining weight, leading to severe food restriction and potentially life-threatening weight loss. The new code, F50.010, reports restricting type anorexia nervosa of mild severity, with no engagement in binge eating or purging behaviors. This differentiation is crucial for developing targeted treatment plans and monitoring progression or remission.
F50.023 - Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating/Purging Type, Extreme
This code reflects a severe form of anorexia nervosa where individuals engage in binge eating and purging behaviors such as vomiting or misuse of laxatives. Recognizing the 'extreme' severity is vital for immediate and intensive treatment interventions, highlighting the urgency of the condition.
F50.21 - Bulimia Nervosa: Mild
Bulimia nervosa involves periods of excessive eating followed by compensatory behaviors. The introduction of a 'mild' category (F50.21) helps clinicians and coders to accurately document cases that, while serious, may not meet the thresholds of more severe categories. This can assist in tracking treatment effectiveness and making necessary adjustments.
F50.814 - Binge Eating Disorder, in Remission
Previously, there was no distinct coding option for binge eating disorders in remission. Adding F50.814 allows for better patient management and can encourage ongoing support and intervention strategies to prevent relapse.
F50.83 - Pica in Adults
Pica, the compulsive eating of non-food items, has been recognized with a specific code for adults, addressing the need for distinct treatment strategies that differ from pediatric cases.
F50.84 - Rumination Disorder in Adults
Similar to Pica, rumination disorder in adults now has its own code, acknowledging the condition's unique challenges and management strategies in adult populations.
These 2025 updates to ICD-10-CM codes for mental health disorder reporting underscore the importance of a medical coder’s efforts in ensuring the capture of a patient’s unique clinical situation through accurate and complete coding.
This is not a complete listing of all new codes for eating disorders being added to ICD-10-CM Chapter 5 Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental disorders for 2025. Please refer to the FY 2025 Tabular List of Disease and Injuries and/or addenda to review the additional codes.
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/icd-10-codes/2025-icd-10-cm