What is ICD-10 code C79.60?

C79.60 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified ovary. Cancer that has spread to one or both ovaries from another part of the body, but the specific ovary is not identified. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49). C79.60 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. C79.60 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. C79.60 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. C79.60 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.

Which HCC does C79.60 map to under V28?

C79.60 maps to CMS-HCC V28 HCC 18 (Cancer Metastatic to Bone, Other and Unspecified Metastatic Cancer; Acute Leukemia Except Myeloid). The category numbers, labels, and conditions come from the CMS-HCC V28 model file for payment year 2026.

What documentation supports C79.60?

Use this code only when the laterality (which ovary) is unknown or not documented; if laterality is specified, use C79.61, C79.62, or C79.63 instead. This is a secondary cancer code, so always code the primary cancer site first. Because C79.60 maps to an HCC category, the documentation must satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) before the diagnosis is used for risk adjustment. See the MEAT criteria checklist at /meat-criteria for what Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat looks like in a note. MEAT is generic documentation evidence, not a payer-specific rule.

2026 ICD-10-CM C79.60: Secondary malignant neoplasm

C79.60 maps to CMS-HCC V28 18. A source-labeled RAF reference is available. Documentation must support MEAT. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC Buddy coding tools

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 lookupC79.60Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Malignant neoplasms of ill-defined, other secondary and unspecified sites (C76-C80)

C79.60

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

Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified ovary

Cancer that has spread to one or both ovaries from another part of the body, but the specific ovary is not identified.

Buddy Insight

Secondary malignant neoplasm of an unspecified ovary indicates metastatic cancer has spread to an ovary but laterality is not documented.

CMS-HCC V28

Mapped

HCC 18

Cancer Metastatic to Bone, Ot...

Code-level coefficient reference

CMS-HCC V24

Historical

Not used for standard CY2026 Medicare Advantage payment. Select a historical period to review V24.

Not used for CY2026 payment

ACA/HHS

Mapped

HCC 008

HHS-HCC 008 adult, RAF varies...

Code-level coefficient reference

ESRD/PACE

Mapped

HCC 8

Metastatic Cancer and Acute L...

Code-level coefficient reference

RXHCC

Mapped

HCC 18

Secondary Cancer of Lung, Liv...

Code-level coefficient reference

Code Book Path

Official

C79Secondary malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified sites

C79.6Secondary malignant neoplasm of ovary

C79.60Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified ovary

Inclusion Terms

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for C79.60 in this effective period.

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for C79.60 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official

C79.61Secondary malignant neoplasm of right ovary

C79.62Secondary malignant neoplasm of left ovary

C79.63Secondary malignant neoplasm of bilateral ovaries

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for C79.60 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for C79.60 in this effective period.

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for C79.60 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for C79.60 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for C79.60 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Primary cancer site documented and coded separately

Laterality — right, left, or bilateral ovarian involvement

Pathological confirmation distinguishing metastatic from primary ovarian cancer

Imaging confirmation — CT, MRI, or ultrasound

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Primary cancer site documented and coded separately

Laterality — right, left, or bilateral ovarian involvement

Pathological confirmation distinguishing metastatic from primary ovarian cancer

Imaging confirmation — CT, MRI, or ultrasound

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Confusing Krukenberg tumors (metastatic) with primary ovarian cancer — pathology is essential

Not specifying laterality when operative or imaging reports clearly document right, left, or bilateral involvement

Coding primary ovarian cancer as secondary without evidence of another primary site

Using the non-specific genital organ code (C79.82) when ovary-specific codes exist

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

C79.61/C79.62/C79.63 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of right/left/bilateral ovaries; use when laterality is documented

C56.1/C56.2/C56.9 — Primary malignant neoplasm of ovary; primary ovarian cancer is far more common than metastatic disease to the ovary

D39.10-D39.12 — Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of ovary; uncertain behavior tumors require different coding

C79.82 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of genital organs; ovarian metastases have specific codes

Current with CMS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr 1 update (effective Apr 1 – Sep 30, 2026) · CMS-HCC V28, 100% phased in for payment year 2026. FY2027 code set already staged for October 1, 2026. How HCC Buddy stays current →

Is C79.60 an HCC code?

Yes. C79.60 (Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified ovary) maps to HCC 18, Cancer Metastatic to Bone, Other and Unspecified Metastatic Cancer; Acute Leukemia Except Myeloid under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, with a source-labeled community non-dual aged reference coefficient of 2.341. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes. It is billable for payment year 2026.

Coder answer: C79.60 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 18, Cancer Metastatic to Bone, Other and Unspecified Metastatic Cancer; Acute Leukemia Except Myeloid. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.

Code: C79.60
Description: Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified ovary
HCC (V28): HCC 18 — Cancer Metastatic to Bone, Other and Unspecified Metastatic Cancer; Acute Leukemia Except Myeloid
RAF reference coefficient: 2.341
Billable: Yes
Payment year: 2026

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 18, Cancer Metastatic to Bone, Other and Unspecified Metastatic Cancer; Acute Leukemia Except Myeloid

2.341

ESRDHCC 8, Metastatic Cancer and Acute Leukemia

Not separately weighted

RxHCCHCC 18, Secondary Cancer of Lung, Liver, Brain, and Other Sites

Not separately weighted

These are source-labeled model coefficients, not member totals. A category may still be removed by hierarchy or model cleanup rules. Weights are not directly comparable across models: CMS-HCC V28 and V24 use Community, Non-Dual, Aged; ESRD uses the dialysis continuing-enrollee model; RxHCC is the Part D continuing-enrollee, non-low-income, aged weight (a larger scale than CMS-HCC). ACA/HHS has no single weight — it varies by metal level. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains available for historical review.

Work C79.60 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT Criteria for C79.60

For C79.60 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 C79.60 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

Coder workflow notes

Get the V28 mapping + MEAT cheat sheet

One printable reference: check representative V28 mappings and the documentation reminders your note needs. Free, no card.

Free PDF. No card. Unsubscribe anytime.

What This Code Means

C79.60 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified ovary. Cancer that has spread to one or both ovaries from another part of the body, but the specific ovary is not identified. C79.60 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of ill-defined, other secondary and unspecified sites (c76-c80).

Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, C79.60 maps to Cancer Metastatic to Bone, Other and Unspecified Metastatic Cancer; Acute Leukemia Except Myeloid (HCC 18) with a source-labeled community, non-dual, aged reference coefficient of 2.341. No V24 mapping is shown for C79.60; use the applicable model and payment year when reviewing the V28 mapping. 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. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes.

Use this code only when the laterality (which ovary) is unknown or not documented; if laterality is specified, use C79.61, C79.62, or C79.63 instead. Because C79.60 maps to an HCC category, the provider's documentation must satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) before the diagnosis is used for risk adjustment. 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, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for C79.60 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•Use this code only when the laterality (which ovary) is unknown or not documented; if laterality is specified, use C79.61, C79.62, or C79.63 instead.
•This is a secondary cancer code, so always code the primary cancer site first.

Clinical Significance

Secondary malignant neoplasm of an unspecified ovary indicates metastatic cancer has spread to an ovary but laterality is not documented. Krukenberg tumors (ovarian metastases from gastrointestinal primaries) are a classic example. Ovarian metastases require differentiation from primary ovarian cancer, which has vastly different treatment approaches and prognosis.

Documentation Requirements

✓Primary cancer site documented and coded separately
✓Laterality — right, left, or bilateral ovarian involvement
✓Pathological confirmation distinguishing metastatic from primary ovarian cancer
✓Imaging confirmation — CT, MRI, or ultrasound
✓Tumor markers — CA-125, CEA, CA 19-9 to help distinguish primary from metastatic

Commonly Confused Codes

•C79.61/C79.62/C79.63: Secondary malignant neoplasm of right/left/bilateral ovaries; use when laterality is documented
•C56.1/C56.2/C56.9: Primary malignant neoplasm of ovary; primary ovarian cancer is far more common than metastatic disease to the ovary
•D39.10-D39.12: Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of ovary; uncertain behavior tumors require different coding
•C79.82: Secondary malignant neoplasm of genital organs; ovarian metastases have specific codes