C08.1
BillableMalignant neoplasm of sublingual gland
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is C08.1 an HCC code?
Yes. C08.1 maps to Breast, Prostate, Colorectal and Other Cancers and Tumors under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers under V24).
HCC Category Mapping
RAF weights shown are the community, non-dual, aged base weights from the CMS risk adjustment model file. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member segment, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains in use during the transition and for historical data.
MEAT Criteria for C08.1
For C08.1to count as a valid HCC diagnosis in a given encounter, the provider's documentation must show MEAT: Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat. A diagnosis from a prior year does not carry forward automatically — it has to be re-documented and supported each calendar year.
- 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
Only one of M/E/A/T is required to support the code, but the documentation must be specific enough to show that the provider actually addressed C08.1 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
C08.1 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of sublingual gland. Cancer that starts in the sublingual gland, a small salivary gland located under the tongue. C08.1 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, C08.1 maps to Breast, Prostate, Colorectal and Other Cancers and Tumors (HCC 21) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.545. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, C08.1 maps to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers (HCC 11) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.306. V28 is the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model that reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition.
Confirm sublingual location is documented to avoid confusion with submandibular gland. Because C08.1 maps to a payment HCC, the provider's documentation must satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's Medicare Advantage risk adjustment score. 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, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for C08.1 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Confirm sublingual location is documented to avoid confusion with submandibular gland
- •Document any involvement of surrounding oral structures
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of the sublingual gland is a rare cancer of the smallest major salivary gland located beneath the tongue. Sublingual gland malignancies have a high proportion of adenoid cystic carcinomas, which are characterized by perineural invasion and a tendency for late recurrence, requiring long-term surveillance.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology-confirmed malignancy with histological subtype (adenoid cystic carcinoma common)
- ✓Documentation specifically identifying sublingual gland as primary site
- ✓Assessment of perineural invasion and extension to floor of mouth
- ✓Laterality (right or left)
- ✓Long-term surveillance plan given high late recurrence risk
Commonly Confused Codes
- •C08.0 — Malignant neoplasm of submandibular gland; the sublingual gland is smaller and located beneath the tongue, not under the jaw
- •C04.1 — Lateral floor of mouth; sublingual gland tumors may present as floor of mouth masses
- •C08.9 — Major salivary gland, unspecified; avoid when sublingual gland is documented
- •D11.7 — Benign neoplasm of other major salivary glands; distinguish benign from malignant