Vitamin D Deficiency, ICD-10 (2025): Code, Documentation, and Reimbursement Guide

Posted By: Medsole RCM

Posted Date: Oct 28, 2025

Vitamin D Deficiency: Interpreting the Laboratory Process and What You Need to Know for Billing

Vitamin D Deficiency ICD-10 (E55.9) holds great relevance in today’s medical billing and patient care documentation.

It’s a condition that affects bone density, influences calcium absorption, and even weakens immune function—and now, these must be evaluated with more precision under the ICD-10-CM Classification System (Category 2025) for compliance and proper reimbursement.

Only by coding correctly can a healthcare facility track population health outcomes and stay financially sound.

 

Using the Wrong ICD-10 Code for Vitamin D Deficiency

The wrong ICD-10 code for vitamin D deficiency will cost you time, money, and reputation. Incorrect ICD-10 reporting can lead to denials, reworking of claims, and mistakes in patient records. While this diagnosis code is applicable for both the coder and CDI specialist, properly documenting, reporting, and billing are critical for CMS compliance—and the functioning of effective revenue cycle management in American hospitals.

 

ICD-10 for Vitamin D Deficiency (E55.9)

The ICD-10-CM Code E55.9 applies when Vitamin D deficiency is confirmed without mentioning a specific subtype or cause.

If malabsorption contributes to the deficiency, code it separately.

When nutritional deficiency or Vitamin D–induced osteoporosis appears in records, list those as secondary diagnoses for diagnostic accuracy.

 

Table 1: Key ICD-10 Diagnostic Codes for Vitamin D–Related Disorders

ICD-10 Code

Description

Common Use

Supporting Data

E55.9

Vitamin D deficiency, unspecified

Normal adult deficiency

Serum Vitamin D < 20 ng/mL

LE55.0

Rickets, active

Pediatric deficiency

Radiographic confirmation

E55.8

Other Vitamin D Deficiencies (Insufficiency)

Borderline deficiency/insufficiency

Serum 21–29 ng/mL

In the ICD-10, there is a code for Vitamin D deficiency known as E55.9. Bill CPT code 82306 for the lab tests, and to demonstrate the venipuncture, bill 36415. Make sure you use the appropriate modifier in billing for Preventive Services for Vitamin D Deficiency under ICD-10. [ICD-10-CM 2025] For EP professional claims where the HIT system assigns a code, ICD-10-CM 2025 format templates must be utilized, and provider-generated EHR must be consistent with these standards to comply with payer review.

 

The Association Between Vitamin D Deficiency and the ICD-10 Code's Relevance

Using E55.9 is both clinically and financially meaningful.

From a billing perspective, when a Vitamin D deficiency diagnosis isn’t properly documented, it often leads to rejection and forces rebilling.

From a clinical perspective, accurate coding ensures care continuity, clear health data, and correct payment from Medicare and commercial payers.

 

Common Mistakes Coders Make When Using E55.9

  • Coders often report Vitamin D deficiency without providing laboratory proof.
  • One common mistake is the omission of recorded treatment or follow-up.
  • E55.8 (insufficiency) is being used instead of E55.9 (deficiency).
  • Forgetting linked conditions such as osteoporosis (ICD-10 M81.0).
  • Missing comorbid symptoms like musculoskeletal pain (ICD-10 M79.1).

Avoiding these errors prevents unnecessary denials and keeps billing efficient.

 

Rules and Regulations—CMS 2025 Documentation Requirements

The CMS ICD-10-CM 2025 revision emphasizes linking lab results directly to the physician’s interpretation.

Each claim coded with E55.9 must be supported by lab evidence and treatment documentation—not just diagnosis notes.

Checklist: Documents Required for E55.9 Claims

  • Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D test value (ng/mL).
  • The physician’s interpretation confirms the deficiency.
  • The documentation should include a record of either ergocalciferol or cholecalciferol treatment.
  • Follow-up date or reassessment schedule.
  • Provider’s name, signature, and credentials.

Proper documentation helps meet payer demands and lowers OIG audit risks.
The cause—whether nutritional, metabolic, or drug-induced—should be identified in every case.

Read more on official CMS coverage guidelines for vitamin D-related services.

 

ICD-10 for Vitamin D Deficiency vs. Insufficiency—The Difference You Must Know

Vitamin D Insufficiency ICD-10 (E55.8) is applied when the patient’s Vitamin D levels are low but not low enough to qualify as true deficiency.

By contrast, Vitamin D Deficiency ICD-10 (E55.9) is used when the condition is clinically significant.

 

Table 2: Clinical and Billing Comparison (E55.8 vs. E55.9)

Parameter

E55.8 – Insufficiency

E55.9 – Deficiency

Serum Level

21–29 ng/mL

< 20 ng/mL

Symptoms

Mild fatigue, occasional muscle weakness

Bone pain, fractures, severe fatigue

Payer Reimbursement

Limited

Full (with documentation)

Co-Conditions

Musculoskeletal pain (ICD-10 M79.1), Osteoporosis (ICD-10 M81.0)

Hypocalcemia (ICD-10 E83.51), Malnutrition (ICD-10 E46)

This differentiation ensures coders choose the correct ICD-10 category and receive proper reimbursement under payer guidelines.

 

Understanding the Importance of Using E55.9 in Coding Reports

The detailed ICD classifications can enhance the accuracy of reporting in ICD-10-CM 2025 and allow monitoring of nutrition-associated chronic conditions. Please consult the most current CMS Compliance Manuals for E55 updates. This issue is particularly relevant for Medicare Advantage claims.

Properly coded E55.9 means tighter revenue cycle control, reduced denials and more effective preventive care tracking. It’s one more way to help ensure you have consistent EHR data across systems—vital for practices striving to reach both regulatory and clinical quality targets.

 

CPT Coding, Documentation Workflows, and Reimbursement Pathways for Vitamin D Deficiency (ICD-10 E55.9)

Understanding CPT Codes and Lab Test Linkages

All rightful claims for Vitamin D Deficiency ICD-10 (2025) have to depend on a correct CPT-ICD connection. The ICD-10 code for Vitamin D Deficiency is E55.9, which is related to lab testing protocols that confirm clinical need. Providers need to guarantee such diagnostic linkages are uniform in both their EHR and claim forms, or they risk raising payer objections.

The type of measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is done using the CPT code 82306 with venipuncture, which is described by the code 36415 when claims are submitted. These are codes that hold the key to ensure claim linkage is accurate. If the testing occurs as part of preventive screening, proper modifiers must be appended to comply with CMS 2025 guidelines.

 

Primary CPT Codes for Vitamin D Testing

CPT Code

Description

Usage Context

Documentation Required

82306

Vitamin D, 25-hydroxy, total

Standard lab test to measure deficiency.

Lab report confirming serum level.

36415

Venipuncture, routine

Used when collecting a patient blood sample

Signed provider order

G0472

Preventive vitamin D screening

Medicare wellness visits and preventive programs

Provider documentation of necessity

The ICD-10 code E55.9 should always be cross-referenced with CPT 82306 in test-driven deficiency cases. Claims missing this pairing risk automatic rejections or audit flags.

 

Reimbursement Rules and Documentation Standards (CMS 2025)

Per CMS 2025, Vitamin D Deficiency documentation has to link directly with clinical. The interpretation by the provider, as well as serum level notes and treatment information, must specifically match the CPT being billed. Lack of medical necessity can result in claim denials and post-payment audits.

For better denial prevention workflows, explore Denials Management at MedSole RCM.

 

Advanced Clinical and Multi-Condition Coding for Vitamin D Deficiency (ICD-10 E55.9)

E55: Vitamin D Deficiency (HCC) / Multi-Condition Coding Appendices (G47 115.9)
Vitamin D deficiency should not be diagnosed based on a single diagnosis. It is often related to conditions such as osteoporosis [ICD-10 M81.0], hypocalcemia (E83.51), and malnutrition (E46). When diagnosed and reported, these concurrent conditions support the accurate depiction of a patient's overall medical status.

Cross-coding of the data is essential if links between metabolic diseases and musculoskeletal conditions are to be established: CSM 2025. By connecting those diagnoses properly, coders can defend medical necessity, meet payer documentation needs, and support the provider in getting paid.

 

Clinical Documentation is Necessary for Claims that Involve Multiple Conditions

True or False: Accurate documentation is the foundation of compliance coding. Each E55.9 threshold was appropriate and included test data and the physician interpretation, as well as any stated concomitant conditions.

When two diagnoses are related, the EHR must indicate a causal relationship, such as “osteoporosis from Vitamin D deficiency.”

This clear medical documentation will be a great source for you in an audit, ensure robust clinical validation, and improve the rate of approval. Without this link, providers face denials, rework, or incomplete data reporting for CMS quality metrics.

 

Dodging the Error in the Link Code of Condition

One of the most common reasons claims for Vitamin D Deficiency ICD-10 (2025) are refused is due to billing errors with multiple conditions. Most recitations are out of order or lack sufficient cause. Coders must maintain consistency between ICD-10 diagnosis codes and therapies administered.

Common mistakes include underreporting secondary illnesses, skipping treatment follow-up, and coding preventive tests without sufficient needed evidence. However, robust internal assessments, clinical audits, and payer-oriented documentation templates all help ensure claim defensibility.

 

How MedSole RCM Enforces Coding Consistency Across Systems

  1. MedSole RCM simplifies Vitamin D Deficiency coding by using automated checks, verifying related conditions, and following CMS audit suggestions.
    Its intelligence review mechanism catches problems before claims go out, decreasing rejections and ensuring that all of the codes, say, E55.9, and a health-related concern, are appropriately linked.

MedSole RCM helps healthcare providers follow the rules while keeping their income steady and good relationships with insurance companies by ensuring that clinical records are accurate and billing is precise.

 

Highlights for Documentation in Multi-Diagnosis Coding

To be relevant in ICD-10 (2025), records must include a Vitamin D Deficiency ICD-10 (E55.9) claim, which includes:

  • Strong clinical link between the deficit and the related diseases.
  • The laboratory report confirms the diagnosis.
  • The provider documented each encounter note in the same way.
  • The provider documented a treatment regimen and follow-up in the EHR.

This method reduces denials and improves the overall health of the revenue cycle over time.

 

Conclusion

Vitamin D Deficiency ICD-10 (2025) must be understood and documented correctly. It is the appropriate course of action for both therapeutic truth-telling and fiscal stability. With the rise in coding complexity, caregivers must ensure that each E55.9 entry represents the whole clinical picture, including pertinent test results and compliant documentation.

A strong coding of Vitamin D deficiency will lower the chances of claim denials, boost trust from payers, and make sure we follow the CMS 2025 rules. By using the right documents, CPT mapping, and accurate practices for multiple conditions, you can get paid while making the work process easier. With MedSole RCM, you can achieve excellent billing accuracy from beginning to end, making Vitamin D Deficiency coding a great example of following the rules and using data to improve revenue.

For more guidance on CMS documentation and coverage, visit the CMS resource page.

Faqs

1. What is the ICD-10 code for Vitamin D Deficiency?

The ICD-10 code for Vitamin D Deficiency is **E55.9**. Defining a vitamin D deficiency without a specific subtype, the reason, or the cause is recorded as E55.9. this is the default coding. It is listed as a billing code under ICD-10-CM 2025.

2. What is the ICD-10 code for Vitamin D Insufficiency?

The code E55.8 is assigned for Vitamin D Insufficiency as long as the recorded level does not clinically reach the status of a deficiency. 

3. What is the CPT code for Vitamin D blood work?

The CPT code **82306** is assigned for a Vitamin D blood test while **36415** is assigned for blood collection through venipuncture. 

4. Can I report E55.9 with other conditions?

Yes, **E55.9** can be reported with **malnutrition (E46)**, **hypocalcemia (E53.51)**, or **osteoporosis (M81.0)** provided there is a clinical rationale for the linkage

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