E44.1

Mild protein-calorie malnutrition

FY2027Chapter 4: Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases/E40–E46 Malnutrition

BillableComplete code, valid to report

E44.1 (also written E441) is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for mild protein-calorie malnutrition. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. It is one of the 2 codes in category E44 (Protein-calorie malnutrition of moderate and mild degree). The Alphabetic Index lists it under 4 entries. Its coding notes include 3 Excludes1 entries and 2 Excludes2 entries.

Excludes1

Not coded here. The listed conditions generally should not be reported together.

Also from chapter/block level (3 notes)
Inherited from E40–E46 Malnutrition
  • intestinal malabsorption (K90.-)
  • sequelae of protein-calorie malnutrition (E64.0)
Inherited from Chapter 4 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
  • transitory endocrine and metabolic disorders specific to newborn (P70-P74)

Excludes2

Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.

Also from chapter/block level (2 notes)
Inherited from E40–E46 Malnutrition

Care settings

How CMS programs treat this code. These are CMS claim edits and list entries, not coverage or eligibility rules.

Home Health Primary

Accepted as the primary (principal) diagnosis on a home health claim. The Home Health Grouper assigns it to the MMTA - Other clinical group.

Source: CMS Home Health Grouper Software v07.2.26, effective October 1, 2026

Hospital CC

Counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) when reported as a secondary diagnosis on an inpatient claim. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 9 codes in its exclusion list. Some MS-DRGs also ignore a CC or MCC that defines the DRG.

Source: CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v44, effective October 1, 2026, Appendix C

Notes

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Chapter 4 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases
  • All neoplasms, whether functionally active or not, are classified in Chapter 2. Appropriate codes in this chapter (i.e. E05.8, E07.0, E16-E31, E34.-) may be used as additional codes to indicate either functional activity by neoplasms and ectopic endocrine tissue or hyperfunction and hypofunction of endocrine glands associated with neoplasms and other conditions classified elsewhere.

Alphabetic Index terms

Terms the official Alphabetic Index lists for this code. 4 entries