ICD-10 Code for Bed-Bound Status
The appropriate ICD-10 code for a bed-bound patient is Z74.01 (Bed confinement status).
Primary Coding Recommendation
Z74.01 specifically designates bed confinement status and is the most direct code for documenting that a patient is bed-bound 1.
This code falls within the Z74 category for "Problems related to care provider dependency," which encompasses various levels of mobility limitation 1.
Clinical Context and Documentation
The bed-bound status should be documented alongside the underlying medical condition(s) causing the mobility limitation, as the Z code alone does not explain the clinical reason for the patient's immobility 2.
When documenting bed-bound status, include specific functional limitations and the duration of disability to support medical necessity for services and equipment 2.
Related Mobility Codes
Z74.09 can be used for other reduced mobility if the patient has some mobility but does not meet criteria for complete bed confinement 1.
The Mini Nutritional Assessment scoring system assigns "0=bed or chair bound" as part of mobility assessment, which correlates with the need for Z74.01 coding 1.
Coding Structure
List Z74.01 as the primary code when bed-bound status is the focus of the encounter, followed by codes for underlying conditions that justify the mobility limitation 2.
For encounters focused on the underlying condition rather than mobility status itself, code the primary diagnosis first and include Z74.01 as a secondary code 2.
Common Clinical Scenarios
Nutritional risk screening tools specifically identify bed-bound status as a severity indicator, with bed confinement scoring as the most severe mobility limitation in assessment protocols 1.
Patients confined to bed due to illness (such as following major abdominal surgery) represent a distinct clinical category with substantially increased protein requirements 1.
Documentation Pitfalls
Avoid using only unspecified codes without pairing them with the specific Z74.01 code when bed-bound status is clinically relevant 3.
The ICD-10 code Z59.0 exists for homelessness but should not be confused with bed-bound status coding 1.
Ensure documentation clearly links the bed-bound status to specific medical conditions to support medical necessity for equipment, services, or home health care 2, 3.