C85.92
BillableNon-Hodgkin lymphoma, unspecified, intrathoracic lymph nodes
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is C85.92 an HCC code?
Yes. C85.92 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 C85.92
For C85.92 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 C85.92 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
C85.92 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for non-hodgkin lymphoma, unspecified, intrathoracic lymph nodes. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of unspecified type affecting the lymph nodes inside the chest cavity. C85.92 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, C85.92 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, C85.92 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.
Intrathoracic lymph nodes include mediastinal and hilar nodes; ensure documentation specifies chest involvement. Because C85.92 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 C85.92 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Intrathoracic lymph nodes include mediastinal and hilar nodes; ensure documentation specifies chest involvement
- •Distinguish from lung parenchymal involvement, which would be coded differently
Clinical Significance
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma involving intrathoracic lymph nodes represents a malignancy of the lymphoid system affecting mediastinal and hilar nodes within the chest cavity. This unspecified subtype designation indicates the histologic type has not been further classified, which limits prognostic precision and treatment planning. Intrathoracic involvement may cause compressive symptoms such as superior vena cava syndrome or airway obstruction.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation must confirm the anatomical site as intrathoracic lymph nodes (mediastinal, hilar, or tracheobronchial).
- ✓The provider should specify the NHL subtype based on pathology findings whenever possible.
- ✓Active treatment status, staging workup results, and current disease status (active, remission, relapse) must be clearly stated.
Commonly Confused Codes
- •C85.90 (NHL unspecified, unspecified site) lacks the site specificity of C85.
- •C34.x codes for primary lung malignancy should not be used for lymphomatous involvement of intrathoracic nodes. C81.x codes are for Hodgkin lymphoma and should be distinguished based on Reed-Sternberg cell presence. C85.12-C85.82 should be used when the specific NHL subtype is identified.