C83.398 DLBCL Maps to HCC 20 in V28. C83.39 Is Not Billable.

If you searched C83.398, C83.39, or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma next to V28, you are looking at a lymphoma cluster where the documented lymphoma type, not the word "lymphoma", decides the CMS-HCC V28 category for payment year 2026.

C83.398 (Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of other extranodal and solid organ sites) is billable and maps to HCC 20 in CMS-HCC V28. The PY2026 V28 CSV row is `C83398,20.0,,,`. HCC 20 is titled Lung and Other Severe Cancers, not Lymphoma and Other Cancers.

C83.39 (Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites) is a nonbillable heading in FY2027. It has no CSV row. Pick one of its two billable children: C83.390 (Primary central nervous system lymphoma) or C83.398. Both map to HCC 20.

The live HCC 20 hub shows a source-labeled community non-dual aged reference coefficient of 1.136 and 233 ICD rows. The live HCC 21 hub (Lymphoma and Other Cancers) shows 0.671 and 463 ICD rows. Those are category references, not member RAF totals.

Every billable DLBCL leaf maps to HCC 20 in the PY2026 CSV:

• C83.30 unspecified site, C83.31 lymph nodes of head, face, and neck, C83.32 intrathoracic lymph nodes, C83.33 intra-abdominal lymph nodes, C83.34 lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb, C83.35 lymph nodes of inguinal region and lower limb, C83.36 intrapelvic lymph nodes, C83.37 spleen, C83.38 lymph nodes of multiple sites -> HCC 20
• C83.390 Primary central nervous system lymphoma -> HCC 20
• C83.398 DLBCL of other extranodal and solid organ sites -> HCC 20
• C83.3A Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, in remission -> HCC 20

Several lymphoma leaves that sit next to DLBCL in the chart or the index land somewhere else:

• C85.20 and C85.29 Mediastinal (thymic) large B-cell lymphoma -> HCC 21
• C83.89 Other non-follicular lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites -> HCC 21
• C83.90 and C83.99 Non-follicular (diffuse) lymphoma, unspecified -> HCC 21
• C85.90 and C85.99 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, unspecified -> HCC 21
• C84.49 Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not elsewhere classified, extranodal and solid organ sites -> HCC 19
• Z85.72 Personal history of non-Hodgkin lymphomas -> billable, does not map (no CSV row)

A large B-cell lymphoma is not automatically HCC 20, and "non-Hodgkin lymphoma" with no type is not HCC 20. The map is leaf-specific.

As of October 6, 2026, the public ICD leaf cards default to the FY2027 ICD-10-CM edition and read the V28 result from the CMS 2027 Initial ICD-10-CM Mappings (payment year 2027, 2026 dates of service). For every leaf in this desk, that card result agrees with the PY2026 V28 CSV and the live HCC hubs. Payment maps in this desk are verified from the PY2026 CSV and the hub listings.

This page is the coder-desk walk for the C83.398 DLBCL map under CMS-HCC V28.

Desk table: verified maps (2026-10-06)

Coeff refs are the live hub community non-dual aged references (HCC 19 1.798, HCC 20 1.136, HCC 21 0.671). Not member totals. Segment coefficients vary.

What C83.398 means on the claim

C83.398 is the DLBCL leaf for an extranodal or solid organ site other than the central nervous system. Use it when the provider documents diffuse large B-cell lymphoma at that kind of site. It maps to HCC 20 when supported in the eligible year.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma has its own leaf, C83.390. The spleen has its own DLBCL leaf, C83.37. Nodal disease uses the lymph node region leaves C83.31 to C83.36, or C83.38 for multiple sites. Do not put every non-nodal DLBCL on C83.398 by habit. All of these map to HCC 20, but the site still has to match the record.

Do not assign C83.398 because a pathology report mentions large B cells while the provider assessment says only "lymphoma". The provider has to document the lymphoma type. Query when pathology and the assessment disagree.

FY2027 Tabular notes coders ask about

These notes are shown on the live FY2027 cards with their source level:

• C83.3 (inclusion terms): Anaplastic, CD30-positive, Centroblastic, Immunoblastic, Plasmablastic, and T-cell rich diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, plus Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, subtype not specified.
• C83.3 Excludes1: mediastinal (thymic) large B-cell lymphoma (C85.2-) and mature T/NK-cell lymphomas (C84.-).
• C83 category Excludes1: personal history of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Z85.72).
• C83.390 inclusion terms: PCNSL of brain, PCNSL of meninges, PCNSL of spinal cord, PCNSL NOS.
• C83.390 Excludes1: Primary central nervous system lymphoma, Burkitt (C83.79), lymphoblastic (C83.59), other (C83.89), and peripheral T-cell (C84.49).
• C81-C96 section Excludes2: Kaposi's sarcoma of lymph nodes (C46.3), secondary and unspecified neoplasm of lymph nodes (C77.-), secondary neoplasm of bone marrow (C79.52), and secondary neoplasm of spleen (C78.89).

The C83.390 Excludes1 list is where the categories split. A Burkitt or lymphoblastic CNS lymphoma (C83.79, C83.59) still maps to HCC 20. An "other" CNS lymphoma (C83.89) maps to HCC 21. A peripheral T-cell CNS lymphoma (C84.49) maps to HCC 19. The lymphoma type documented by the provider decides the leaf, and the leaf decides the HCC.

The C83.3 Excludes1 note matters the same way. Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma is coded in C85.2-, and C85.2- maps to HCC 21, not HCC 20.

Coding paths (documentation-driven)

Pick the path from what the chart actually supports. Do not add a lymphoma type, a site, or a remission status for RAF.

1. Provider documents DLBCL at an extranodal or solid organ site other than the CNS -> C83.398 -> V28 HCC 20.

2. Provider documents primary CNS lymphoma, DLBCL type or NOS -> C83.390 -> V28 HCC 20.

3. Provider documents DLBCL of the spleen -> C83.37 -> V28 HCC 20.

4. Provider documents nodal DLBCL in one named region -> that C83.31 to C83.36 leaf -> V28 HCC 20. Multiple nodal sites -> C83.38 -> V28 HCC 20.

5. Provider documents DLBCL with no site -> C83.30 -> V28 HCC 20.

6. Provider documents DLBCL in remission -> C83.3A -> V28 HCC 20.

7. Provider documents primary mediastinal (thymic) large B-cell lymphoma -> C85.2- leaf -> V28 HCC 21.

8. Provider documents only "non-Hodgkin lymphoma" with no type -> C85.9- leaf -> V28 HCC 21.

9. Provider documents "diffuse" or non-follicular lymphoma with no type -> C83.9- leaf -> V28 HCC 21.

10. Provider documents CNS lymphoma of another named type: Burkitt (C83.79) or lymphoblastic (C83.59) -> HCC 20; other (C83.89) -> HCC 21; peripheral T-cell (C84.49) -> HCC 19.

11. Provider documents a past lymphoma with no current disease and no current treatment, stated as history -> Z85.72 -> billable, no V28 map. The C83 Excludes1 note means Z85.72 is not reported with a C83 code.

12. Never report C83.39 or C83.3 on a claim. They are nonbillable headings.

13. Do not invent member RAF totals from the 1.136 reference.

Hierarchy note

The live HCC 20 hub shows HCC 20 superseded by HCC 17, HCC 18, and HCC 19, and HCC 20 superseding HCC 21, HCC 22, and HCC 23. The live HCC 19 hub shows HCC 19 (Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Multiple Myeloma, and Other Cancers) with a CNA reference of 1.798 and 68 ICD rows.

So when a supported HCC 20 code and a supported HCC 21 code are both on the record for the year, HCC 20 counts and HCC 21 drops. If a supported HCC 17, 18, or 19 condition is also present, that category counts instead of HCC 20. Hierarchy is applied by the model. It is not a reason to add or remove a documented diagnosis.

MEAT for mapped HCC 20

In review, a lymphoma code is supported when the visit documents it as active, under treatment, or in remission with a current assessment. A problem list line or a history line that says "DLBCL" from a prior year does not carry HCC 20 forward.

For mapped leaves in this desk, the note should support:

• M Monitor: symptoms, labs, imaging, or surveillance status when documented
• E Evaluate: pathology, staging, imaging, or oncology findings reviewed at the visit
• A Assess: an explicit diagnosis of DLBCL, with site, and with remission status when the provider states it
• T Treat: chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, a referral, or a documented surveillance plan

MEAT is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule. Follow the applicable coding, encounter, program, and payer requirements. See MEAT, acute vs history of, and problem lists.

Audit and query traps

1. Reporting C83.39 on a claim. It is a nonbillable heading with no CSV row. Use C83.390 or C83.398.

2. Assuming every lymphoma maps to HCC 21 because of the HCC 21 title. DLBCL leaves map to HCC 20.

3. Coding "non-Hodgkin lymphoma" (C85.9-) when the provider documented DLBCL. That drops HCC 20 to HCC 21 and loses specificity.

4. Coding DLBCL when the provider documented primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma. C83.3 Excludes1 sends that to C85.2-, which maps to HCC 21.

5. Putting splenic or CNS DLBCL on C83.398. Spleen is C83.37 and primary CNS lymphoma is C83.390.

6. Converting "in remission" to "history of", or "history of" to "in remission", without provider language. C83.3A maps to HCC 20. Z85.72 does not map. Query when unclear.

7. Reporting Z85.72 with a C83 code. The C83 category Excludes1 note does not allow it.

8. Coding DLBCL in lymph nodes to C77.-. The C81-C96 section Excludes2 note separates secondary and unspecified neoplasm of lymph nodes from lymphoma codes.

9. Carrying a prior-year DLBCL forward from a problem list with no current assessment.

10. Using the 1.136 CNA reference as a member RAF total.

11. Inventing Coding Clinic quotes, competitor CTAs, or PHI examples.

Related desks and tools

• Live cards: C83.398, C83.39, C83.390, C83.3A, C83.38, C83.30, C85.29, C85.99, C83.89, C84.49, Z85.72
• Hubs: HCC 19, HCC 20, HCC 21
• Lookup: ICD-10 to HCC, Encoder
• Evidence habits: MEAT, acute vs history of, problem lists, hierarchy and trumping
• Nearby map/trap desks: C84.7A BIA-ALCL, J69.0 aspiration pneumonia, D56.0 alpha thalassemia

Current as of October 6, 2026. Always confirm the PY2026 V28 CSV and the live HCC hub before you lock a map claim.