C02.8 ICD-10-CM Code: Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of tongue
C02.8 maps to CMS-HCC V28 21. A source-labeled RAF reference is available. Confirm the documented diagnosis and applicable coding requirements. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC Buddy coding tools
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FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx (C00-C14)
C02.8
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceMalignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of tongue
Cancer that involves multiple overlapping areas of the tongue without a single primary site.
Buddy Insight
Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of tongue is used when a tumor spans two or more distinct anatomic subsites of the tongue and the point of origin cannot be determined.
CMS-HCC V28
MappedHCC 21
Coefficient HCC 21: 0.671 (Community Non-Dual Aged (CNA))
CMS-HCC V24
HistoricalHistorical
Not used for CY2026 payment
ACA/HHS
MappedHCC 011
Code-level coefficient reference
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 11
Code-level coefficient reference
RXHCC
MappedHCC 22
Code-level coefficient reference
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
Official- Malignant neoplasm of two or more contiguous sites of tongue
Excludes 2
OfficialNo Excludes 2 notes are included in this display for C02.8. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Related Codes
Includes
OfficialNo Includes notes are included in this display for C02.8. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Excludes 1
OfficialNo Excludes 1 notes are included in this display for C02.8. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Code First
OfficialNo Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for C02.8. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Use Additional
Official- code to identify:Inherited from C02
- alcohol abuse and dependence (F10.-)Inherited from C02
- history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)Inherited from C02
- tobacco dependence (F17.-)Inherited from C02
- tobacco use (Z72.0)Inherited from C02
Code Also
OfficialNo Code Also instructions are included in this display for C02.8. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
Current with CMS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr 1 update (effective Apr 1 – Sep 30, 2026) · CMS-HCC V28, 100% phased in for payment year 2026. FY2027 code set already staged for October 1, 2026. How HCC Buddy stays current →
Is C02.8 an HCC code?
Yes. C02.8 (Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of tongue) maps to HCC 21, Lymphoma and Other Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, with a source-labeled community non-dual aged reference coefficient of 0.671. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes. It is billable for payment year 2026.
Coder answer: C02.8 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 21, Lymphoma and Other Cancers. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.
- Code
- C02.8
- Description
- Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of tongue
- HCC (V28)
- HCC 21 — Lymphoma and Other Cancers
- RAF reference coefficient
- 0.671
- Billable
- Yes
- Payment year
- 2026
HCC Category Mapping
These are source-labeled model coefficients, not member totals. A category may still be removed by hierarchy or model cleanup rules. Weights are not directly comparable across models: CMS-HCC V28 and V24 use Community, Non-Dual, Aged; ESRD uses the dialysis continuing-enrollee model; RxHCC is the Part D continuing-enrollee, non-low-income, aged weight (a larger scale than CMS-HCC). ACA/HHS has no single weight — it varies by metal level. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains available for historical review.
Work C02.8 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT review for C02.8
For C02.8, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.
- MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
- EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
- AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
- TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
C02.8 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of tongue. Cancer that involves multiple overlapping areas of the tongue without a single primary site. C02.8 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx (c00-c14).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, C02.8 maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers (HCC 21) with a source-labeled community, non-dual, aged reference coefficient of 0.671. For CY2026 non-PACE Medicare Advantage, CMS uses 100% of the 2024 CMS-HCC model (V28). PACE uses a separate model blend. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes.
Use this code only when the tumor spans multiple distinct tongue regions. For C02.8, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule. When documentation is ambiguous, coders should issue a provider query rather than assume the highest-specificity variant.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for C02.8 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code only when the tumor spans multiple distinct tongue regions
- •Document which specific areas are involved to support medical necessity
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of tongue is used when a tumor spans two or more distinct anatomic subsites of the tongue and the point of origin cannot be determined. This indicates a larger, more advanced tumor that crosses anatomic boundaries, which has implications for staging, surgical planning, and prognosis.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology confirming malignancy crossing multiple tongue subsites
- ✓Documentation specifying which tongue regions are involved (e.g., border extending to dorsal surface)
- ✓Explanation that the primary site of origin cannot be determined
- ✓Staging reflecting the full extent of disease across subsites
- ✓Imaging demonstrating the extent of tumor involvement
- ✓Active disease confirmed
Commonly Confused Codes
- •C02.0-C02.4 (Site-specific tongue codes) - use when a single specific subsite can be identified as the primary origin
- •C02.9 (Tongue, unspecified) - use when the location is completely unknown; C02.8 is for known multi-site involvement
- •C01 (Base of tongue) - if tumor originates from the base and extends anteriorly, C01 may be more appropriate