2025 ICD-10-CM code R63.0
Anorexia; loss of appetite.
No modifiers are typically applied to R63.0.
Medical necessity for R63.0 is established when a patient presents with a significant loss of appetite that warrants further investigation to rule out or identify an underlying medical or psychological condition.The necessity is defined by the need for further diagnostic testing and assessment.
The clinical responsibility involves determining the underlying cause of the anorexia. This could involve a range of medical specialties depending on the suspected cause, such as gastroenterology, endocrinology, oncology, or psychiatry.
- Chapter 17: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
- Chapter 17: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99); General symptoms and signs (R50-R69)
In simple words: This code means a loss of appetite.It's used when someone doesn't feel hungry, and the doctor doesn't yet know why.
R63.0 in ICD-10-CM classifies anorexia, which is defined as a loss of appetite.This code is used when the loss of appetite is not specifically attributable to another condition or disorder.It's crucial to distinguish R63.0 from anorexia nervosa (F50.0), a mental health condition involving distorted body image and a fear of weight gain, leading to severe food restriction.R63.0 is for situations where the loss of appetite is a symptom itself, needing further investigation to determine the underlying cause.
Example 1: A patient presents with a general loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss.The physician orders blood tests to rule out anemia, thyroid issues, or other underlying medical conditions. Code R63.0 is used while awaiting test results., A patient undergoing cancer treatment experiences nausea and a significant decrease in appetite.R63.0 is used to document the loss of appetite as a side effect of the treatment, but the primary diagnosis remains the cancer., An elderly patient exhibits a decrease in appetite, possibly due to age-related changes in taste or smell or underlying medical issues, needs further assessment for underlying issues. R63.0 is applied while the physician conducts a thorough history and physical exam to determine the cause.
Patient history including appetite changes, weight changes, associated symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain), dietary intake, medication history, and relevant laboratory findings.
** R63.0 is a placeholder code used when a loss of appetite is present but the underlying cause is unknown.It's not a definitive diagnosis and should be replaced by a more specific code once the etiology is determined.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable.
- Specialties:Many, including gastroenterology, oncology, endocrinology, and geriatrics.
- Place of Service:Office, Hospital Inpatient, Hospital Outpatient, Nursing Facility, other.