Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)

What does the ICD-10-CM code for severe malnutrition indicate?

1. It represents a comprehensive nutrition assessment

2. It details patient symptoms related to malnutrition

3. It identifies a patient with an unspecified severe condition

4. It is a code that denotes mild malnutrition

The correct answer is: It identifies a patient with an unspecified severe condition

The ICD-10-CM code for severe malnutrition specifically identifies patients with a serious condition that significantly impacts their health. This coding system is designed to capture the severity and specifics of a patient's medical condition, and in the case of severe malnutrition, it reflects a critical state of nutritional deficiency that requires medical intervention. Severe malnutrition generally indicates that the patient's nutritional status has reached a level that can lead to severe health complications if not addressed. Therefore, the code serves as an indicator of the severity of the patient's malnutrition status rather than detailing symptoms or representing an assessment of nutritional needs. As such, the information encoded indicates that the patient's malnutrition is both severe and notable for clinical documentation and treatment planning, illustrating the importance of accurate coding for effective patient care management.