Skip to content

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

ICD-10-CM Code View

HCC Buddy Code Card

Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.

Code lookupC43

FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin (C43-C44)

C43

Header CodeICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Malignant 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

Inclusion Terms

Official

No 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

Includes

Official

No 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

Official

No Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for C43. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Use Additional

Official

No Use Additional Code instructions are included in this display for C43. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Code Also

Official

No 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

Get the V28 mapping + MEAT cheat sheet

One printable reference: check representative V28 mappings and the documentation reminders your note needs. Free, no card.

Free PDF. No card. Unsubscribe anytime.

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.-)

Excludes 2, Not included here, may code separately

  • 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

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

C43Malignant melanoma of skin
C43Malignant melanoma of skin

Work C43 in HCC Buddy

Open C43 in the Code Book for the full Index-to-Tabular path, MEAT checklist, and V28 HCC mapping, or in the Encoder to code from a keyword search. Pro includes 7 days to try everything, no card required.