Question 1

What is ICD-10 code A18.01?

Accepted Answer

A18.01 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for tuberculosis of spine. This is a serious infection of the backbone caused by tuberculosis bacteria, which can cause pain, weakness, and potential spinal deformity. It's a form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis that affects the vertebrae and surrounding tissues. A18.01 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for certain infectious and parasitic diseases (a00-b99), within the section covering tuberculosis (a15-a19).

A18.01 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.

Verify documentation confirms tuberculosis of the spine (Pott's disease) rather than other spinal infections; this code requires confirmation of TB organism involvement.

Question 2

Is A18.01 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. A18.01 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any payment HCC category under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can still be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions, but it does not contribute to the beneficiary's Risk Adjustment Factor (RAF) score and therefore does not affect the risk-adjusted capitation payment to the plan. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026.

Question 3

Is A18.01 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A18.01 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can be reported on professional and institutional claims as a primary or secondary diagnosis when the provider documentation supports the specific condition described. Billable codes in ICD-10-CM are coded to the highest level of specificity available for the documented diagnosis. A18.01 is current for fiscal year 2026 and remains in the active CMS ICD-10-CM code set published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Question 4

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for A18.01?

Accepted Answer

A18.01 does not map to a payment HCC under either the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model or the older V24 model. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition. Because neither model rewards A18.01 with a risk adjustment factor, it contributes zero to a Medicare Advantage beneficiary's RAF score in either version. Coders should check whether provider documentation supports a more specific child code that does map to a payment HCC.

Question 5

What should coders know when reporting A18.01?

Accepted Answer

Verify documentation confirms tuberculosis of the spine (Pott's disease) rather than other spinal infections; this code requires confirmation of TB organism involvement Check for additional codes needed for complications such as spinal deformity, neurological deficits, or concurrent pulmonary TB, as TB of spine often occurs with other TB manifestations

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A18.01

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A18.01 ICD-10-CM Code: Tuberculosis of spine

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A18.01

Is A18.01 an HCC code?

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