C83.81
BillableOther non-follicular lymphoma, lymph nodes of head, face, and neck
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is C83.81 an HCC code?
Yes. C83.81 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 C83.81
For C83.81 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 C83.81 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
C83.81 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other non-follicular lymphoma, lymph nodes of head, face, and neck. A type of non-follicular lymphoma affecting the lymph nodes in the head, face, and neck region. C83.81 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, C83.81 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, C83.81 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 is site-specific; ensure documentation confirms involvement of head, face, or neck lymph nodes. Because C83.81 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 C83.81 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •This code is site-specific; ensure documentation confirms involvement of head, face, or neck lymph nodes
- •Do not use if the lymphoma is in remission; add the appropriate remission status code
Clinical Significance
Other non-follicular lymphoma involving lymph nodes of the head, face, and neck represents a localized presentation that may affect cervical, preauricular, submandibular, or occipital lymph nodes. Head and neck lymphoma presentations often lead to earlier detection due to visible or palpable lymphadenopathy. Site-specific coding is important for treatment planning and accurate risk stratification.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology confirming non-follicular lymphoma subtype
- ✓Documentation specifying head, face, or neck lymph node involvement
- ✓Imaging (CT, PET/CT, or ultrasound) confirming lymph node location
- ✓Current disease status and treatment plan
- ✓Staging documentation including whether disease is limited to this region
Commonly Confused Codes
- •C83.91 — Non-follicular (diffuse) lymphoma, unspecified, head/face/neck: Use C83.81 when the non-follicular subtype is identified as a specific 'other' type; C83.91 is for unspecified subtype
- •C83.31 — Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, head/face/neck: Use when pathology specifically confirms diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
- •C83.11 — Mantle cell lymphoma, head/face/neck: Use when pathology confirms mantle cell subtype specifically