C34.02
BillableMalignant neoplasm of left main bronchus
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is C34.02 an HCC code?
Yes. C34.02 maps to Lung and Other Severe Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Lung and Other Severe 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 C34.02
For C34.02 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 C34.02 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
C34.02 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of left main bronchus. This code describes cancer that starts in the main airway (bronchus) on the left side of the lungs. It is a malignant tumor that originates in this specific location rather than spreading from elsewhere. C34.02 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of respiratory and intrathoracic organs (c30-c39).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, C34.02 maps to Lung and Other Severe Cancers (HCC 20) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.000. Under the older V24 model, C34.02 mapped to the same category but with a base RAF weight of 0.973 — 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.
Verify laterality is documented as left-sided in the medical record before assigning this code; right-sided tumors use C34.01. Because C34.02 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 C34.02 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Verify laterality is documented as left-sided in the medical record before assigning this code; right-sided tumors use C34.01
- •This code is specific to the main bronchus; if the tumor involves other lung regions, review documentation carefully to ensure the primary site is correctly identified
Clinical Significance
Left main bronchus cancer specifies laterality for central lung malignancy. The left main bronchus is longer and narrower than the right, and tumors here are in close proximity to the aortic arch and left pulmonary artery, which may limit surgical options. Left pneumonectomy carries higher morbidity than right-sided, affecting treatment decisions.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology with histological type and molecular markers
- ✓Bronchoscopy or imaging confirming left main bronchus location
- ✓Explicit left-sided laterality documentation
- ✓Assessment of aortic arch and pulmonary artery involvement
- ✓TNM staging and surgical candidacy evaluation
Commonly Confused Codes
- •C34.01 — Right main bronchus: Verify laterality carefully; right vs. left has different surgical implications
- •C34.12 — Left upper lobe: Main bronchus is proximal to lobar origin; distinguish carefully
- •C34.00 — Unspecified main bronchus: Use C34.02 when left side is documented
- •C34.92 — Left lung, unspecified part: C34.02 is more specific for main bronchus location