C17.1 ICD-10-CM Code: Malignant neoplasm of jejunum
C17.1 maps to CMS-HCC V28 20 (RAF 1.136). Documentation must support MEAT. MEAT criteria · RAF calculator · free HCC coding tools
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 digestive organs (C15-C26)
C17.1
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceMalignant neoplasm of jejunum
Cancer that develops in the jejunum, which is the middle section of the small intestine.

Buddy Insight
Malignant neoplasm of the jejunum is rare, representing a small fraction of all gastrointestinal cancers.
CMS-HCC V28
MappedHCC 20
RAF 1.136
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 9
RAF 1.024
ACA/HHS
MappedHCC 9
Varies by metal level
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 9
RAF 0.181
RXHCC
MappedHCC 22
RAF 0.124
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for C17.1 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for C17.1 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for C17.1 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
Official- malignant carcinoid tumors of the small intestine (C7A.01)
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for C17.1 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for C17.1 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for C17.1 in this effective period.
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 C17.1 an HCC code?
Yes. C17.1 (Malignant neoplasm of jejunum) maps to Lung and Other Severe Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Lung and Other Severe Cancers under V24), with a community non-dual aged RAF of 1.136. It is billable for payment year 2026.
Coder answer: C17.1 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 20, Lung and Other Severe Cancers. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.
- Code
- C17.1
- Description
- Malignant neoplasm of jejunum
- HCC (V28)
- HCC 20 — Lung and Other Severe Cancers
- RAF
- 1.136
- Billable
- Yes
- Payment year
- 2026
HCC Category Mapping
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 C17.1 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT Criteria for C17.1
For C17.1 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 C17.1 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
Coder workflow notes
Get the V28 RAF + MEAT cheat sheet
One printable page: confirm a code's V28 HCC status, its RAF weight, and the MEAT your note needs to make it stick. Free, no card.
Free PDF. No card. Unsubscribe anytime.
What This Code Means
C17.1 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of jejunum. Cancer that develops in the jejunum, which is the middle section of the small intestine. C17.1 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of digestive organs (c15-c26).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, C17.1 maps to Lung and Other Severe Cancers (HCC 20) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 1.136. Under the older V24 model, C17.1 mapped to the same category but with a base RAF weight of 1.024, V28 recalibrated weights across the entire model. 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.
Small intestine cancers are rare; ensure histological type is documented (adenocarcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, etc.). Because C17.1 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 C17.1 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Small intestine cancers are rare; ensure histological type is documented (adenocarcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, etc.)
- •Verify this is not a metastatic lesion from another primary site
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of the jejunum is rare, representing a small fraction of all gastrointestinal cancers. The jejunum is the middle segment of the small intestine, and cancers here are often diagnosed late due to vague, nonspecific symptoms. Despite their rarity, jejunal cancers carry significant morbidity and require surgical resection, making accurate coding important for reflecting the true resource needs of these patients.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation confirming jejunum as the primary tumor location
- ✓Histological type (adenocarcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, neuroendocrine)
- ✓Confirmation of primary versus metastatic disease
- ✓Any predisposing conditions (Crohn disease, celiac disease, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome)
- ✓Stage of disease and surgical findings
Commonly Confused Codes
- •C17.0: Duodenum: the duodenum is the first segment; the jejunum begins at the ligament of Treitz
- •C17.2: Ileum: the ileum is the distal segment; boundaries between jejunum and ileum may be unclear on imaging
- •C17.9: Small intestine, unspecified: use C17.1 when jejunum is specifically documented
- •C83.-: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: primary intestinal lymphoma may present in the jejunum but is coded to lymphoma categories

