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C26

Non-Billable (Header)

Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined digestive organs

Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)

What This Code Means

C26 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined digestive organs. C26 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of digestive organs (c15-c26).

Header codes like C26 cannot be reported on claims directly — they organize child codes that share clinical context but the actual diagnosis must be coded to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation. Coders should look at C26's child codes and select the one that matches the patient's documented presentation, since payers reject header codes submitted as the primary diagnosis. For risk adjustment workflows, header codes never contribute to a Medicare Advantage member's RAF score on their own; only billable child codes that happen to map to a payment HCC affect risk-adjusted plan payments.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for C26 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Excludes 1 — Do NOT code together

  • malignant neoplasm of peritoneum and retroperitoneum (C48.-)

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

C26Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined digestive organs
C26Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined digestive organs

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