C43 ICD-10-CM Code: Malignant melanoma of skin

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 but the actual diagnosis must be coded to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation. Coders should look at C43'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.