What is ICD-10 code C14.8?

C14.8 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of lip, oral cavity and pharynx. Cancer that involves multiple overlapping areas of the lips, mouth, and throat where the exact primary site cannot be determined. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49). C14.8 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. C14.8 is part of the FY2026 ICD-10-CM code set published by the CMS National Center for Health Statistics and used on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial claims in the United States.

Yes. C14.8 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. C14.8 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.

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for C14.8?

CMS phased in the V28 risk adjustment model over payment years 2024 (33%), 2025 (67%), and 2026 (100%), replacing V24. V28 consolidates HCC categories, removes some lower-acuity conditions, and recalibrates RAF weights across the entire model. For C14.8, V28 maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers at RAF 0.671 while V24 mapped to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers at RAF 0.307. Both models can still appear in legacy data and in payer-specific lookback periods.

What should coders know when reporting C14.8?

Use this code only when the tumor spans multiple anatomical sites in the oral cavity and pharynx If a single primary site can be identified, use the specific site code instead of this overlapping code Because C14.8 maps to a payment HCC, the documentation must also satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's risk adjustment score.

2026 ICD-10-CM C14.8: Malignant neoplasm

ICD-10-CM Code View

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Code lookupC14.8Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx (C00-C14)

C14.8

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of lip, oral cavity and pharynx

Cancer that involves multiple overlapping areas of the lips, mouth, and throat where the exact primary site cannot be determined.

Buddy Insight

This code represents the most extensive overlapping cancer of the head and neck, where a malignant tumor spans across the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx without a single identifiable primary site.

CMS-HCC V28

Mapped

HCC 21

Lymphoma and Other Cancers

RAF 0.671

CMS-HCC V24

Mapped

HCC 11

Colorectal, Bladder, and Othe...

RAF 0.307

ACA/HHS

Mapped

HCC 11

HHS-HCC 11

Varies by metal level

ESRD/PACE

Mapped

HCC 11

Colorectal, Bladder, and Othe...

RAF 0.059

RXHCC

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

Code Book Path

Official

C14Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites in the lip, oral cavity and pharynx

C14.8Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of lip, oral cavity and pharynx

Inclusion Terms

Official

Primary malignant neoplasm of two or more contiguous sites of lip, oral cavity and pharynx

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for C14.8 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official

C14.0Malignant neoplasm of pharynx, unspecified

C14.2Malignant neoplasm of Waldeyer's ring

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for C14.8 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

'book leaf' neoplasm [ventral surface of tongue and floor of mouth] (C06.89)

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for C14.8 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

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for C14.8 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Pathology and imaging confirming tumor involvement across lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal boundaries

Documentation of all anatomical regions involved

Evidence that a single primary site in the lip, mouth, or pharynx cannot be determined

Complete TNM staging reflecting the multi-regional extent

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Pathology and imaging confirming tumor involvement across lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal boundaries

Documentation of all anatomical regions involved

Evidence that a single primary site in the lip, mouth, or pharynx cannot be determined

Complete TNM staging reflecting the multi-regional extent

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Using this code when the tumor could be classified within a single anatomical region (oral cavity, oropharynx, or hypopharynx)

Not reviewing multidisciplinary tumor board notes which may identify a primary site

Confusing this cross-regional overlapping code with region-specific overlapping codes (C04.8, C05.8, C10.8, etc.)

Failing to document the full extent of anatomical involvement that justifies this cross-regional code

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

C10.8 — Overlapping sites of oropharynx; use when overlap is confined to oropharyngeal subsites

C06.89 — Overlapping sites of mouth; use when overlap is confined to oral cavity sites

C13.8 — Overlapping sites of hypopharynx; use when overlap is confined to hypopharyngeal subsites

C14.0 — Pharynx, unspecified; 'unspecified' means unknown site, not overlapping across regions

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 C14.8 an HCC code?

Yes. C14.8 (Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of lip, oral cavity and pharynx) maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers under V24), with a community non-dual aged RAF of 0.671. It is billable for payment year 2026.

Coder answer: C14.8 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: C14.8
Description: Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of lip, oral cavity and pharynx
HCC (V28): HCC 21 — Lymphoma and Other Cancers
RAF: 0.671
Billable: Yes
Payment year: 2026

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 21, Lymphoma and Other Cancers

0.671

V24HCC 11, Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers

0.307

ESRDHCC 11, Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers

0.059

Each model's RAF is its CMS base weight for that model's standard population, so 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 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.

Work C14.8 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT Criteria for C14.8

For C14.8 to 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 C14.8 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

C14.8 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of lip, oral cavity and pharynx. Cancer that involves multiple overlapping areas of the lips, mouth, and throat where the exact primary site cannot be determined. C14.8 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, C14.8 maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers (HCC 21) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.671. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, C14.8 maps to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers (HCC 11) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.307. 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.

Use this code only when the tumor spans multiple anatomical sites in the oral cavity and pharynx. Because C14.8 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 C14.8 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 anatomical sites in the oral cavity and pharynx
•If a single primary site can be identified, use the specific site code instead of this overlapping code

Clinical Significance

This code represents the most extensive overlapping cancer of the head and neck, where a malignant tumor spans across the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx without a single identifiable primary site. These are typically very advanced cancers that have grown beyond the boundaries of any single anatomical region.

Documentation Requirements

✓Pathology and imaging confirming tumor involvement across lip, oral cavity, and pharyngeal boundaries
✓Documentation of all anatomical regions involved
✓Evidence that a single primary site in the lip, mouth, or pharynx cannot be determined
✓Complete TNM staging reflecting the multi-regional extent
✓Multidisciplinary tumor board documentation of primary site assessment

Excludes 1, Do NOT code together

'book leaf' neoplasm [ventral surface of tongue and floor of mouth] (C06.89)

Commonly Confused Codes

•C10.8: Overlapping sites of oropharynx; use when overlap is confined to oropharyngeal subsites
•C06.89: Overlapping sites of mouth; use when overlap is confined to oral cavity sites
•C13.8: Overlapping sites of hypopharynx; use when overlap is confined to hypopharyngeal subsites
•C14.0: Pharynx, unspecified; 'unspecified' means unknown site, not overlapping across regions