C50.929
BillableMalignant neoplasm of unspecified site of unspecified male breast
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is C50.929 an HCC code?
Yes. C50.929 maps to Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors under V24).
HCC Category Mapping
RAF weights shown are the community, non-dual, aged base weights from the CMS risk adjustment model file. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member segment, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains in use during the transition and for historical data.
MEAT Criteria for C50.929
For C50.929 to count as a valid HCC diagnosis in a given encounter, the provider's documentation must show MEAT: Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat. A diagnosis from a prior year does not carry forward automatically — it has to be re-documented and supported each calendar year.
- MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
- EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
- AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
- TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis
Only one of M/E/A/T is required to support the code, but the documentation must be specific enough to show that the provider actually addressed C50.929 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
C50.929 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of unspecified male breast. Breast cancer in a male patient, but neither the specific side (left or right) nor the exact location within the breast is documented. C50.929 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of breast (c50).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, C50.929 maps to Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers (HCC 23) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.251. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, C50.929 maps to Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors (HCC 12) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.150. V28 is the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model that reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition.
This is the least specific code for male breast cancer; use only when laterality and site are both unknown. Because C50.929 maps to a payment HCC, the provider's documentation must satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's Medicare Advantage risk adjustment score. When documentation is ambiguous, coders should issue a provider query rather than assume the highest-specificity variant.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for C50.929 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •This is the least specific code for male breast cancer; use only when laterality and site are both unknown
- •Query the provider or review medical records to obtain more specific laterality information
Clinical Significance
This is the most nonspecific male breast cancer code, lacking both site and laterality information. For a rare diagnosis that requires precise documentation for cancer registry reporting and treatment planning, this code represents the most significant documentation gap. It should trigger immediate documentation improvement efforts.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Confirmed male patient sex
- ✓Confirmed active breast malignancy
- ✓Documentation explaining why neither laterality nor site can be determined
- ✓Evidence of comprehensive record review including imaging, pathology, and surgical notes
- ✓Provider query documentation for laterality and site specification