2025 ICD-10-CM code R63.3
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings - General symptoms and signs Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99) Feed
Feeding difficulties, excluding eating disorders, newborn feeding problems, and infant feeding disorders of nonorganic origin.
No specific modifiers are typically applied to R63.3, but general modifiers may apply depending on the circumstances of service.
Medical necessity is established when the patient exhibits significant difficulty with feeding, impacting their nutritional intake and overall health. The documentation must support the clinical need for further investigation and treatment of the feeding difficulties.
The clinical responsibility for this code involves a thorough evaluation of the patient’s feeding difficulties. This includes a detailed history taking, physical examination, and potentially further investigations like swallowing studies or imaging studies to identify the underlying cause of the feeding difficulty.
- Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
- R63 (Feeding difficulties)
In simple words: This code means the patient has trouble eating or swallowing, and doctors haven't found the reason why yet.
R63.3 in the ICD-10-CM classification system denotes feeding difficulties.This code is used when a patient experiences problems with eating or swallowing, but the underlying cause cannot be determined or is not classifiable elsewhere in the coding system.It specifically excludes eating disorders (F50.-), feeding problems in newborns (P92.-), and infant feeding disorders of nonorganic origin (F98.2-).
Example 1: A 6-month-old infant presents with recurrent choking and coughing during feeding, and the cause remains unknown after initial investigations., An elderly patient with a history of stroke experiences difficulty swallowing solid foods, necessitating a referral to a speech therapist for a swallowing evaluation., A patient with a diagnosed neurological condition exhibits intermittent difficulty coordinating the process of eating, but no specific structural abnormality can be found.
Detailed history of feeding difficulties, including onset, duration, frequency, and associated symptoms (e.g., choking, coughing, pain). Results of relevant investigations (e.g., swallowing study, barium swallow, endoscopic evaluation).Physician's assessment of feeding difficulties and any associated conditions.Any interventions or treatments provided.
** This code is primarily for situations where the underlying cause of the feeding difficulty is unknown or cannot be precisely determined after a thorough evaluation. The code should be used cautiously and only when other, more specific codes are not applicable.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Pediatrics, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Geriatrics
- Place of Service:Office, Hospital, Inpatient, Outpatient