C85.95
BillableNon-Hodgkin lymphoma, unspecified, lymph nodes of inguinal region and lower limb
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is C85.95 an HCC code?
Yes. C85.95 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 C85.95
For C85.95 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 C85.95 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
C85.95 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for non-hodgkin lymphoma, unspecified, lymph nodes of inguinal region and lower limb. This code describes a type of cancer affecting the lymph nodes in the groin and leg area, but the specific subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma has not been identified or specified. It is used when a patient has non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the inguinal lymph nodes without further classification of the lymphoma type. C85.95 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, C85.95 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, C85.95 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.
Verify the pathology report to determine if a more specific non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtype (such as diffuse large B-cell, follicular, or marginal zone) can be documented, as this would allow for a more specific code assignment. Because C85.95 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 C85.95 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Verify the pathology report to determine if a more specific non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtype (such as diffuse large B-cell, follicular, or marginal zone) can be documented, as this would allow for a more specific code assignment
- •Ensure the anatomical site is confirmed as inguinal region and/or lower limb lymph nodes; if lymph nodes in other regions are also involved, additional codes may be needed to capture all affected sites
Clinical Significance
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of unspecified type involving inguinal and lower limb lymph nodes affects the groin and leg nodal chains. Inguinal lymphadenopathy may be incidentally discovered on physical examination or present with lower extremity swelling due to lymphatic obstruction. This location is relatively accessible for diagnostic biopsy but may indicate more advanced or widespread disease when combined with other sites.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Provider must document inguinal or lower extremity lymph node involvement specifically.
- ✓Pathology should be queried for a more specific NHL subtype whenever possible.
- ✓Disease staging, treatment plan, current disease activity, and any associated lower extremity lymphedema must be documented.
Commonly Confused Codes
- •C85.94 (axillary and upper limb lymph nodes) involves the upper extremity nodal chain.
- •C85.96 (intrapelvic lymph nodes) is for deeper pelvic nodes rather than superficial inguinal nodes.
- •C77.4 (secondary malignant neoplasm of inguinal lymph nodes) applies to metastatic disease, not primary lymphoma.