C74.00
BillableMalignant neoplasm of cortex of unspecified adrenal gland
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is C74.00 an HCC code?
Yes. C74.00 maps to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Lymphoma and Other Cancers 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 C74.00
For C74.00 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 C74.00 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
C74.00 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of cortex of unspecified adrenal gland. This code describes cancer that has started in the outer layer (cortex) of an adrenal gland, but the specific side (left or right) has not been identified. The adrenal glands are small hormone-producing organs that sit on top of the kidneys. C74.00 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of thyroid and other endocrine glands (c73-c75).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, C74.00 maps to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers (HCC 22) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.000. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, C74.00 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.
If the documentation specifies which adrenal gland is affected (left or right), use the more specific codes C74.01 or C74.02 instead of the unspecified code C74.00. Because C74.00 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 C74.00 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •If the documentation specifies which adrenal gland is affected (left or right), use the more specific codes C74.01 or C74.02 instead of the unspecified code C74.00
- •This code is typically used only when the laterality cannot be determined from the medical record; always attempt to clarify with the provider if the affected side is documented elsewhere in the chart
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of the cortex of an unspecified adrenal gland represents adrenocortical carcinoma without laterality documentation. Adrenocortical carcinoma is an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis that often presents with hormonal excess (Cushing syndrome, virilization). The unspecified laterality should trigger a provider query as imaging and surgical reports will specify the affected side.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology confirming adrenocortical carcinoma
- ✓Laterality — query provider to assign C74.01 (right) or C74.02 (left)
- ✓Hormonal evaluation (cortisol, androgens, aldosterone, estrogens)
- ✓Staging information (ENSAT or AJCC staging)
- ✓Documentation confirming cortex (not medulla) as tissue of origin