Question 1

What is ICD-10 code C44.320?

Accepted Answer

C44.320 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for squamous cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified parts of face. Squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, occurring on an unspecified part of the face. C44.320 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin (c43-c44).

C44.320 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to a payment HCC under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions but it does not contribute to a beneficiary's RAF score and therefore does not affect risk-adjusted payments to the plan.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer and has a higher risk of metastasis than basal cell carcinoma.

Question 2

Is C44.320 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. C44.320 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any payment HCC category under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can still be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions, but it does not contribute to the beneficiary's Risk Adjustment Factor (RAF) score and therefore does not affect the risk-adjusted capitation payment to the plan. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026.

Question 3

Is C44.320 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. C44.320 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can be reported on professional and institutional claims as a primary or secondary diagnosis when the provider documentation supports the specific condition described. Billable codes in ICD-10-CM are coded to the highest level of specificity available for the documented diagnosis. C44.320 is current for fiscal year 2026 and remains in the active CMS ICD-10-CM code set published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Question 4

Which HCC does C44.320 map to under V28?

Accepted Answer

C44.320 does not map to a CMS-HCC V28 payment category. Check the current CMS-HCC V28 model file for payment year 2026 rather than an older V24 tip sheet.

Question 5

What does C44.320 pay in RAF?

Accepted Answer

C44.320 has no separately stated V28 community RAF weight. If it is not a V28 payment HCC, it adds nothing to a community RAF score.

Question 6

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for C44.320?

Accepted Answer

C44.320 does not map to a payment HCC under either the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model or the older V24 model. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition. Because neither community model rewards C44.320 with a risk adjustment factor, it contributes zero to a Medicare Advantage beneficiary's V28/V24 community RAF score in either version. Coders should check whether provider documentation supports a more specific child code that does map to a community payment HCC.

Question 7

What documentation supports C44.320?

Accepted Answer

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer and has a higher risk of metastasis than basal cell carcinoma Document the specific facial location (nose, cheek, etc.) to assign the most precise code C44.320 is not a CMS-HCC payment code, so MEAT is not the payment hook. Documentation still has to support the diagnosis if you report it.

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C44.320

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C44.320 ICD-10-CM Code: Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified parts of face

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C44.320

Is C44.320 an HCC code?

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