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C34

Non-Billable (Header)

Malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung

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

What This Code Means

C34 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung. C34 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of respiratory and intrathoracic organs (c30-c39).

Header codes like C34 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 C34'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 C34 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Excludes 1 — Do NOT code together

  • Kaposi's sarcoma of lung (C46.5-)
  • malignant carcinoid tumor of the bronchus and lung (C7A.090)

Use Additional Code

  • code to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
  • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
  • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
  • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
  • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

C34Malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung
C34Malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung

More on C34

Related condition guides

Referenced in blog posts

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