Question 1

What is ICD-10 code A18.2?

Accepted Answer

A18.2 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for tuberculous peripheral lymphadenopathy. This is tuberculosis infection that affects the lymph nodes outside the chest, such as those in the neck, armpits, or groin. The lymph nodes become swollen and inflamed due to the tuberculosis bacteria. A18.2 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for certain infectious and parasitic diseases (a00-b99), within the section covering tuberculosis (a15-a19).

A18.2 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 that the tuberculosis is confirmed and specifically involves peripheral (non-thoracic) lymph nodes rather than chest lymph nodes, which would be coded differently.

Question 2

Is A18.2 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. A18.2 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 A18.2 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A18.2 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. A18.2 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 A18.2?

Accepted Answer

A18.2 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 A18.2 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 A18.2?

Accepted Answer

Verify that the tuberculosis is confirmed and specifically involves peripheral (non-thoracic) lymph nodes rather than chest lymph nodes, which would be coded differently This code should be used with a fifth character to indicate the bacteriological or histological confirmation status (e.g., A18.21 for bacteriologically and histologically confirmed)

HCC Buddy Code Card

A18.2

Is A18.2 an HCC code?

Get the V28 RAF + MEAT cheat sheet

What This Code Means

Coding Tips

Excludes 2, Not included here, may code separately

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

Work A18.2 in HCC Buddy

A18.2 ICD-10-CM Code: Tuberculous peripheral lymphadenopathy

HCC Buddy Code Card

A18.2

Is A18.2 an HCC code?

Get the V28 RAF + MEAT cheat sheet

What This Code Means

Coding Tips

Excludes 2, Not included here, may code separately

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

Work A18.2 in HCC Buddy