E46 — Unspecified protein-calorie malnutrition
Is E46 billable?
Yes, but E46 is an unspecified code. E46 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, E46 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 E46.
E46 at a glance
| Code | E46 |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified protein-calorie malnutrition |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does E46 group to?
E46 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, E46 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is E46 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to E46. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Calorie deficiency or malnutrition
- Malnutrition
- Cataract › malnutrition-dehydration (cortical) (immature) (incipient)
- Deficiency, deficient › protein
- Malnutrition › protein
- Cataract › in › malnutrition-dehydration (cortical) (immature) (incipient)
- Malnutrition › protein › calorie
- Malnutrition › protein › energy
Excludes1 — never code together
The conditions below can never be reported together with E46 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- nutritional deficiency NOS (E63.9)
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to E46.
- Malnutrition NOS
- Protein-calorie imbalance NOS
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from Chapter 4
The conditions below can never be reported together with E46 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 E46 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 E46, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, E46 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has E46 existed?
E46 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.
Which codes are confused with E46?
ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with E46 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.