HCC Buddy Code Card
Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.
FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin (C43-C44)
C4A.2
Header CodeICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceMerkel cell carcinoma of ear and external auricular canal
Merkel cell carcinoma of ear and external auricular canal
CMS-HCC V28
00
RAF 0
CMS-HCC V24
00
RAF 0
ACA/HHS
00
RAF 0
ESRD/PACE
00
RAF 0
RXHCC
00
RAF 0
Code Trumping
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Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for C4A.2 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for C4A.2 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for C4A.2 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for C4A.2 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for C4A.2 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for C4A.2 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for C4A.2 in this effective period.
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.
What This Code Means
C4A.2 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for merkel cell carcinoma of ear and external auricular canal. C4A.2 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 C4A.2 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 C4A.2'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.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for C4A.2 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.