A17.81 ICD-10-CM Code: Tuberculoma of brain and spinal cord
HCC Buddy Code Card
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FY 2026 Apr update / Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99) / Tuberculosis (A15-A19)
A17.81
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceTuberculoma of brain and spinal cord
A tuberculoma is a tumor-like mass caused by tuberculosis infection that develops in the brain or spinal cord. This is a serious complication of tuberculosis where the infection spreads to the central nervous system and forms a localized collection of infected tissue.
CMS-HCC V28
N/A—
Not mapped
CMS-HCC V24
N/A—
Not mapped
ACA/HHS
MappedHCC 3
Varies by metal level
ESRD/PACE
N/A—
Not mapped
RXHCC
N/A—
Not mapped
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
Official- Tuberculous abscess of brain and spinal cord
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for A17.81 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for A17.81 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for A17.81 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for A17.81 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for A17.81 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for A17.81 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.
Is A17.81 an HCC code?
No. A17.81 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any HCC category in V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC.
- Code
- A17.81
- Description
- Tuberculoma of brain and spinal cord
- HCC (V28)
- No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
- RAF
- —
- Billable
- Yes
- Payment year
- 2026
Coder workflow notes
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This code does not map to an HCC category in any model (V28, V24, ESRD, RxHCC).
What This Code Means
A17.81 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for tuberculoma of brain and spinal cord. A tuberculoma is a tumor-like mass caused by tuberculosis infection that develops in the brain or spinal cord. This is a serious complication of tuberculosis where the infection spreads to the central nervous system and forms a localized collection of infected tissue. A17.81 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for certain infectious and parasitic diseases (a00-b99), within the section covering tuberculosis (a15-a19).
A17.81 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to a payment HCC under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions but it does not contribute to a beneficiary's RAF score and therefore does not affect risk-adjusted payments to the plan.
This code should only be used when tuberculosis has specifically affected the brain or spinal cord with formation of a tuberculoma; do not use for general TB meningitis (use A17.0 instead).
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for A17.81 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •This code should only be used when tuberculosis has specifically affected the brain or spinal cord with formation of a tuberculoma; do not use for general TB meningitis (use A17.0 instead)
- •Verify documentation confirms both the tuberculosis diagnosis and the specific location (brain and/or spinal cord) before assigning this code, as it may require additional imaging confirmation