C82.68
BillableCutaneous follicle center lymphoma, lymph nodes of multiple sites
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is C82.68 an HCC code?
Yes. C82.68 maps to Breast, Prostate, Colorectal and Other Cancers and Tumors 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 C82.68
For C82.68 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 C82.68 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
C82.68 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for cutaneous follicle center lymphoma, lymph nodes of multiple sites. A type of lymphoma that starts in the skin and affects lymph nodes in multiple locations throughout the body. C82.68 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue (c81-c96).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, C82.68 maps to Breast, Prostate, Colorectal and Other Cancers and Tumors (HCC 21) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.545. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, C82.68 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.
This code indicates involvement of lymph nodes at multiple anatomical sites; document which specific sites are affected. Because C82.68 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 C82.68 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •This code indicates involvement of lymph nodes at multiple anatomical sites; document which specific sites are affected
- •Confirm cutaneous origin is documented before coding as cutaneous follicle center lymphoma
Clinical Significance
Cutaneous follicle center lymphoma involving lymph nodes at multiple sites indicates widespread nodal disease in the context of a primary cutaneous lymphoma. Multi-site nodal involvement is uncommon for primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma and should trigger careful reassessment of whether the disease is truly primary cutaneous or represents systemic follicular lymphoma with secondary skin involvement. The distinction affects treatment approach and prognosis significantly.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Skin biopsy confirming cutaneous follicle center lymphoma
- ✓Imaging documenting lymph node involvement at two or more distinct anatomic regions
- ✓Documentation of all involved nodal regions
- ✓Clinical discussion addressing whether multi-site nodal disease is consistent with primary cutaneous classification
- ✓Complete staging evaluation including bone marrow assessment if indicated
Commonly Confused Codes
- •C82.58 — Diffuse follicle center lymphoma, lymph nodes of multiple sites: Systemic type without cutaneous primary
- •C82.88 — Other types of follicular lymphoma, lymph nodes of multiple sites: Different follicular subtype
- •C82.69 — Cutaneous follicle center lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites: Use when extranodal organs are involved rather than lymph nodes