ICD-10-CM Code For Moderate Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group F71 includes moderate intellectual disabilities characterized by significantly reduced intellectual functioning and deficits in adaptive behavior that emerge during the developmental period. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document levels of intellectual disability and associated functional limitations, capturing severity and care needs relevant to neurodevelopmental conditions. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM F71 group supports complete clinical documentation and appropriate reimbursement.

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ICD-10-CM F71: Moderate Intellectual Disabilities Overview

This group represents moderate intellectual disabilities, a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by significantly reduced intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior deficits beginning in the developmental period. It targets cognitive and adaptive functioning rather than a specific organ system. Accurate coding matters for complete clinical documentation and appropriate reimbursement because it communicates severity and service needs.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a clinician documents moderate intellectual disability with onset in the developmental period and accompanying adaptive behavior impairments. Codes are applied when the documented severity meets the criteria for moderate impairment and is relevant to the encounter.

ICD-10-CM Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
F71	Moderate intellectual disabilities

DRG Codes

1 rows

DRG Code	Description
884	Organic Disturbances and Intellectual Disability

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 10-year-old child with long-standing deficits in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior is brought by parents for school evaluation because of persistent academic underachievement and difficulties with daily living tasks despite special education support; developmental history reveals onset in the developmental period and standardized IQ testing shows scores consistent with moderate impairment, so a diagnosis from this group is recorded for educational planning and care coordination. Typical codes: F71.
A 28-year-old adult with known moderate intellectual impairment presents to primary care for management of multiple chronic medical conditions; the patient requires simplified communication, caregiver involvement in history and consent, and tailored care plans due to limitations in reasoning and problem-solving, leading clinicians to document the intellectual disability to guide accommodations and interdisciplinary services. Typical codes: F71.
A 35-year-old who has a moderate intellectual disability is evaluated in the emergency department after a suspected accidental ingestion; the acute care team documents the baseline cognitive level to differentiate usual behavior from new altered mental status and to involve guardians in decision-making, resulting in assignment of the appropriate intellectual disability code as a comorbidity that impacts treatment and disposition. Typical codes: F71.

Related Codes

F70-MILD-INTELLECTUAL-DISABILITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Mild Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview

F72-SEVERE-INTELLECTUAL-DISABILITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Severe Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview

F73-PROFOUND-INTELLECTUAL-DISABILITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Profound Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview

F78-OTHER-INTELLECTUAL-DISABILITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview

F79-UNSPECIFIED-INTELLECTUAL-DISABILITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
F71	Moderate intellectual disabilities

DRG Codes

1 rows

DRG Code	Description
884	Organic Disturbances and Intellectual Disability

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 10-year-old child with long-standing deficits in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior is brought by parents for school evaluation because of persistent academic underachievement and difficulties with daily living tasks despite special education support; developmental history reveals onset in the developmental period and standardized IQ testing shows scores consistent with moderate impairment, so a diagnosis from this group is recorded for educational planning and care coordination. Typical codes: F71.
A 28-year-old adult with known moderate intellectual impairment presents to primary care for management of multiple chronic medical conditions; the patient requires simplified communication, caregiver involvement in history and consent, and tailored care plans due to limitations in reasoning and problem-solving, leading clinicians to document the intellectual disability to guide accommodations and interdisciplinary services. Typical codes: F71.
A 35-year-old who has a moderate intellectual disability is evaluated in the emergency department after a suspected accidental ingestion; the acute care team documents the baseline cognitive level to differentiate usual behavior from new altered mental status and to involve guardians in decision-making, resulting in assignment of the appropriate intellectual disability code as a comorbidity that impacts treatment and disposition. Typical codes: F71.

Related Codes

F70-MILD-INTELLECTUAL-DISABILITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Mild Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview

F72-SEVERE-INTELLECTUAL-DISABILITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Severe Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview

F73-PROFOUND-INTELLECTUAL-DISABILITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Profound Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview

F78-OTHER-INTELLECTUAL-DISABILITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview

F79-UNSPECIFIED-INTELLECTUAL-DISABILITIES

ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-CM Code For Moderate Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview

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ICD-10-CM F71: Moderate Intellectual Disabilities Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Moderate Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Moderate Intellectual Disabilities: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM F71: Moderate Intellectual Disabilities Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What does the ICD-10-CM group `F71` represent?

How is coding within `F71` important for documentation and billing?

Which specific ICD-10-CM code is included in this group?

Which DRG is related to the `F71` group?

What aspects of patient status does `F71` target in coding?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What does the ICD-10-CM group `F71` represent?

How is coding within `F71` important for documentation and billing?

Which specific ICD-10-CM code is included in this group?

Which DRG is related to the `F71` group?

What aspects of patient status does `F71` target in coding?

References