E43 — Unspecified severe protein-calorie malnutrition
Is E43 billable?
Yes, but E43 is an unspecified code. E43 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, E43 is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting E43.
E43 at a glance
| Code | E43 |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified severe protein-calorie malnutrition |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does E43 group to?
E43 sits in MDC 10 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 640Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and Electrolytes with MCCmedical
- 641Miscellaneous Disorders of Nutrition, Metabolism, Fluids and Electrolytes without MCCmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, E43 is a major complication or comorbidity (MCC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is E43 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to E43. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Anasarca › nutritional
- Atrophy, atrophic › nutritional (of)
- Deficiency, deficient › calorie, severe
- Emaciation › due to malnutrition
- Malnutrition › severe
- Wasting › extreme
- Malnutrition › degree › severe
- Malnutrition › degree › third
- Disease, diseased › wasting NEC › due to › malnutrition
- Malnutrition › protein › calorie › severe
- Malnutrition › protein › energy › severe
- Wasting › disease › due to › malnutrition
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to E43.
- Starvation edema
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from Chapter 4
The conditions below can never be reported together with E43 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- transitory endocrine and metabolic disorders specific to newborn (P70-P74)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from E40-E46
The conditions below can never be reported together with E43 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from E40-E46
The conditions below are not part of E43, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, E43 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has E43 existed?
E43 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.