C14.0 ICD-10-CM Code: Malignant neoplasm of pharynx, unspecified
HCC Buddy Code Card
Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.
FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx (C00-C14)
C14.0
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceMalignant neoplasm of pharynx, unspecified
Cancer of the pharynx when the specific region (nasopharynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx) cannot be determined.
Buddy Insight
Malignant neoplasm of pharynx, unspecified, is the least specific pharyngeal cancer code, not even identifying which pharyngeal region (nasopharynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx) is affected.
CMS-HCC V28
MappedHCC 21
RAF 0.545
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 11
RAF 0.306
ACA/HHS
00
RAF 0
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 11
RAF 0.0
RXHCC
00
RAF 0
Code Trumping
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Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for C14.0 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for C14.0 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for C14.0 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
Official- malignant neoplasm of oral cavity NOS (C06.9)
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for C14.0 in this effective period.
Use Additional
Official- code to identify:
- alcohol abuse and dependence (F10.-)
- exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
- exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
- history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for C14.0 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
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 C14.0 an HCC code?
Yes. C14.0 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 C14.0
For C14.0to 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 C14.0 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
C14.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of pharynx, unspecified. Cancer of the pharynx when the specific region (nasopharynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx) cannot be determined. C14.0 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, C14.0 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, C14.0 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.
This is the least specific pharyngeal cancer code; use only when anatomical site cannot be identified from documentation. Because C14.0 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 C14.0 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of pharynx, unspecified, is the least specific pharyngeal cancer code, not even identifying which pharyngeal region (nasopharynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx) is affected. This represents the most significant documentation gap in pharyngeal cancer coding, as these three regions have entirely different epidemiology, treatment approaches, and prognosis.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology confirmation of pharyngeal malignancy
- ✓Exhaustive review of all imaging, pathology, and endoscopy reports
- ✓Documentation of provider queries to all treating specialists
- ✓Current treatment information which may suggest the pharyngeal region
- ✓Explanation for why neither nasopharynx, oropharynx, nor hypopharynx can be identified
Commonly Confused Codes
- •C10.9 — Oropharynx, unspecified; more specific if at least oropharynx is identified
- •C11.9 — Nasopharynx, unspecified; more specific if at least nasopharynx is identified
- •C13.9 — Hypopharynx, unspecified; more specific if at least hypopharynx is identified
- •C06.9 — Mouth, unspecified; ensure the cancer is pharyngeal (throat) not oral (mouth)