What is ICD-10 code C70.0?

C70.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges. Cancer that develops in the protective membrane (meninges) surrounding the brain. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49). C70.0 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. C70.0 is part of the FY2026 ICD-10-CM code set published by the CMS National Center for Health Statistics and used on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial claims in the United States.

Yes. C70.0 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. C70.0 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.

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for C70.0?

CMS phased in the V28 risk adjustment model over payment years 2024 (33%), 2025 (67%), and 2026 (100%), replacing V24. V28 consolidates HCC categories, removes some lower-acuity conditions, and recalibrates RAF weights across the entire model. For C70.0, V28 maps to Lung and Other Severe Cancers at RAF 0.000 while V24 mapped to Lymphoma and Other Cancers at RAF 0.675. Both models can still appear in legacy data and in payer-specific lookback periods.

What should coders know when reporting C70.0?

Confirm meningeal involvement is documented in pathology or imaging reports Distinguish from meningeal metastases by reviewing primary site documentation Because C70.0 maps to a payment HCC, the documentation must also satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's risk adjustment score.

C70.0 ICD-10 Code: Malignant neoplasm of cerebral

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 lookupC70.0Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Malignant neoplasms of eye, brain and other parts of central nervous system (C69-C72)

C70.0

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges

Cancer that develops in the protective membrane (meninges) surrounding the brain.

Buddy Insight

Malignant meningioma of the cerebral meninges is a serious intracranial neoplasm arising from the protective membranes of the brain.

CMS-HCC V28

Mapped

HCC 20

Lung and Other Severe Cancers

RAF 0.0

CMS-HCC V24

Mapped

HCC 10

Lymphoma and Other Cancers

RAF 0.675

ACA/HHS

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

ESRD/PACE

Mapped

HCC 10

Lymphoma and Other Cancers

RAF 0.0

RXHCC

Mapped

HCC 22

Cancer, Other Specified Sites

RAF 0.0

Code Trumping

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Code Book Path

Official

C70Malignant neoplasm of meninges

C70.0Malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges

Inclusion Terms

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for C70.0 in this effective period.

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for C70.0 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official

C70.1Malignant neoplasm of spinal meninges

C70.9Malignant neoplasm of meninges, unspecified

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for C70.0 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for C70.0 in this effective period.

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for C70.0 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for C70.0 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for C70.0 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Pathology confirming malignancy — must be World Health Organization Grade III (anaplastic meningioma) to justify malignant code

Documentation distinguishing primary meningeal cancer from meningeal carcinomatosis (metastatic spread to meninges)

Imaging (MRI with contrast) documenting tumor location and extent

Documentation of cerebral versus spinal meningeal involvement

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Pathology confirming malignancy — must be World Health Organization Grade III (anaplastic meningioma) to justify malignant code

Documentation distinguishing primary meningeal cancer from meningeal carcinomatosis (metastatic spread to meninges)

Imaging (MRI with contrast) documenting tumor location and extent

Documentation of cerebral versus spinal meningeal involvement

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Coding benign or atypical meningiomas as malignant — only World Health Organization Grade III is malignant (C70.0)

Confusing primary malignant meningioma with meningeal metastasis (carcinomatosis) — completely different entities

Failing to distinguish cerebral meningeal involvement from spinal meningeal involvement

Using this code for World Health Organization Grade II meningiomas, which should be coded as uncertain behavior

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

D32.0 — Benign neoplasm of cerebral meninges: World Health Organization Grade I meningiomas are benign — the vast majority fall here; only Grade III is malignant

D42.0 — Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of cerebral meninges: World Health Organization Grade II (atypical) meningiomas may be coded here

C70.1 — Spinal meninges: cerebral is brain, spinal is spine — confirm which meninges are involved

C79.32 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges: meningeal carcinomatosis from breast, lung, or other primaries uses secondary codes

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.

Is C70.0 an HCC code?

Yes. C70.0 maps to Lung and Other Severe Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Lymphoma and Other Cancers under V24).

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 20, Lung and Other Severe Cancers

0.000

V24HCC 10, Lymphoma and Other Cancers

0.675

ESRDHCC 10, Lymphoma and Other Cancers

0.000

RxHCCHCC 22, Cancer, Other Specified Sites

0.000

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 C70.0

For C70.0to 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 C70.0 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

What This Code Means

C70.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges. Cancer that develops in the protective membrane (meninges) surrounding the brain. C70.0 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of eye, brain and other parts of central nervous system (c69-c72).

Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, C70.0 maps to Lung and Other Severe Cancers (HCC 20) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.000. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, C70.0 maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers (HCC 10) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.675. 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.

Confirm meningeal involvement is documented in pathology or imaging reports. Because C70.0 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 C70.0 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•Confirm meningeal involvement is documented in pathology or imaging reports
•Distinguish from meningeal metastases by reviewing primary site documentation

Clinical Significance

Malignant meningioma of the cerebral meninges is a serious intracranial neoplasm arising from the protective membranes of the brain. While most meningiomas are benign (coded under D32), malignant meningiomas (World Health Organization Grade III) are aggressive with high recurrence rates, brain invasion, and significantly worse prognosis, requiring aggressive surgical and radiation treatment.

Documentation Requirements

✓Pathology confirming malignancy — must be World Health Organization Grade III (anaplastic meningioma) to justify malignant code
✓Documentation distinguishing primary meningeal cancer from meningeal carcinomatosis (metastatic spread to meninges)
✓Imaging (MRI with contrast) documenting tumor location and extent
✓Documentation of cerebral versus spinal meningeal involvement
✓Surgical or biopsy findings confirming malignant histology

Commonly Confused Codes

•D32.0: Benign neoplasm of cerebral meninges: World Health Organization Grade I meningiomas are benign: the vast majority fall here; only Grade III is malignant
•D42.0: Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of cerebral meninges: World Health Organization Grade II (atypical) meningiomas may be coded here
•C70.1: Spinal meninges: cerebral is brain, spinal is spine: confirm which meninges are involved
•C79.32: Secondary malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges: meningeal carcinomatosis from breast, lung, or other primaries uses secondary codes