C43 ICD-10-CM Code: Malignant melanoma of skin
C43 is not a CMS-HCC payment code. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC Buddy coding tools
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FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin (C43-C44)
C43
Header CodeICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceMalignant melanoma of skin
CMS-HCC V28
N/A—
Not mapped
CMS-HCC V24
N/A—
Not mapped
ACA/HHS
N/A—
Not mapped
ESRD/PACE
N/A—
Not mapped
RXHCC
N/A—
Not mapped
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialNo inclusion terms are included in this display for C43. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Excludes 2
Official- malignant melanoma of skin of genital organs (C51-C52, C60.-, C63.-)
- Merkel cell carcinoma (C4A.-)
- sites other than skin-code to malignant neoplasm of the site
Related Codes
Includes
OfficialNo Includes notes are included in this display for C43. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Excludes 1
Official- melanoma in situ (D03.-)
Code First
OfficialNo Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for C43. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Use Additional
OfficialNo Use Additional Code instructions are included in this display for C43. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Code Also
OfficialNo Code Also instructions are included in this display for C43. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
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 →
- Code
- C43
- Description
- Malignant melanoma of skin
- HCC (V28)
- No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
- RAF reference coefficient
- —
- Billable
- No
- Payment year
- 2026
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
C43 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant melanoma of skin. C43 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin (c43-c44).
Header codes like C43 cannot be reported on claims directly; they organize child codes that share clinical context. Coders should select the billable child code that matches the documented presentation and then verify its current source-backed HCC mapping. Do not infer a child code or risk adjustment value from the header alone.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for C43 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Excludes 1, Do NOT code together
- melanoma in situ (D03.-)

