C86.20 ICD-10-CM Code: Enteropathy-type (intestinal) T-cell lymphoma not having achieved remission
HCC Buddy Code Card
Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.
FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue (C81-C96)
C86.20
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceEnteropathy-type (intestinal) T-cell lymphoma not having achieved remission
This is a rare type of cancer that starts in T-cells (immune cells) in the intestines and has not gone into remission or has returned after treatment. It is an aggressive form of lymphoma that affects the digestive tract.
Buddy Insight
Enteropathy-type intestinal T-cell lymphoma (EATL) is a rare, aggressive lymphoma arising from intraepithelial T-lymphocytes of the small intestine, strongly associated with celiac disease.
CMS-HCC V28
MappedHCC 20
RAF 1.136
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 10
RAF 0.675
ACA/HHS
MappedHCC 10
Varies by metal level
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 10
RAF 0.111
RXHCC
MappedHCC 21
RAF 0.410
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
Official- Enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma NOS
- Enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma not having achieved remission
- Enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma with failed remission
- Enteropathy-type (intestinal) T-cell lymphoma NOS
- Enteropathy-type (intestinal) T-cell lymphoma with failed remission
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for C86.20 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for C86.20 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for C86.20 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for C86.20 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for C86.20 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for C86.20 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
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 C86.20 an HCC code?
Yes. C86.20 (Enteropathy-type (intestinal) T-cell lymphoma not having achieved remission) maps to Lung and Other Severe Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Lymphoma and Other Cancers under V24), with a community non-dual aged RAF of 1.136. It is billable for payment year 2026.
Coder answer: C86.20 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 20, Lung and Other Severe Cancers. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.
- Code
- C86.20
- Description
- Enteropathy-type (intestinal) T-cell lymphoma not having achieved remission
- HCC (V28)
- HCC 20 — Lung and Other Severe Cancers
- RAF
- 1.136
- Billable
- Yes
- Payment year
- 2026
HCC Category Mapping
Each model's RAF is its CMS base weight for that model's standard population, so 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 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.
Work C86.20 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT Criteria for C86.20
For C86.20 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 C86.20 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
C86.20 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for enteropathy-type (intestinal) t-cell lymphoma not having achieved remission. This is a rare type of cancer that starts in T-cells (immune cells) in the intestines and has not gone into remission or has returned after treatment. It is an aggressive form of lymphoma that affects the digestive tract. C86.20 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, C86.20 maps to Lung and Other Severe Cancers (HCC 20) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 1.136. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, C86.20 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 documentation clearly states 'not having achieved remission' or 'refractory' status, as this distinguishes it from C86.21 (in remission); query the provider if remission status is unclear. Because C86.20 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 C86.20 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Verify documentation clearly states 'not having achieved remission' or 'refractory' status, as this distinguishes it from C86.21 (in remission); query the provider if remission status is unclear
- •Ensure this code is used only for enteropathy-type intestinal T-cell lymphoma specifically; do not confuse with other T-cell lymphomas or other GI lymphomas that would have different codes
Clinical Significance
Enteropathy-type intestinal T-cell lymphoma (EATL) is a rare, aggressive lymphoma arising from intraepithelial T-lymphocytes of the small intestine, strongly associated with celiac disease. Patients who have not achieved remission face a very poor prognosis with high rates of intestinal perforation, obstruction, and hemorrhage. This lymphoma often presents as an acute complication in patients with longstanding or refractory celiac disease.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation must confirm the EATL diagnosis through intestinal biopsy with immunohistochemistry.
- ✓Association with celiac disease or refractory sprue should be documented when present.
- ✓Disease extent, staging, surgical interventions for complications, treatment response, and explicit non-remission status must be recorded.
Commonly Confused Codes
- •C86.21 (EATL in remission) requires documented remission.
- •C83.x codes for diffuse NHL should not be used when enteropathy-type is confirmed.
- •C17.x (malignant neoplasm of small intestine) applies to carcinomas, not lymphomas.
- •C88.30 (immunoproliferative small intestinal disease) is a different entity entirely.