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C86.30 ICD-10-CM Code: Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma not having achieved remission

C86.30 maps to CMS-HCC V28 19. A source-labeled RAF reference is available. Confirm the documented diagnosis and applicable coding requirements. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC coding software

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Code lookupC86.30

FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue (C81-C96)

C86.30

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma not having achieved remission

A rare lymphoma affecting the fatty tissue under the skin caused by abnormal T-cells that has not achieved remission.

Buddy the Bee presenting code insight

Buddy Insight

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a rare cutaneous lymphoma that infiltrates subcutaneous adipose tissue, mimicking panniculitis on clinical presentation.

CMS-HCC V28

HCC 19

Coefficient HCC 19: 1.798 (Community Non-Dual Aged (CNA))

CMS-HCC V24

Historical

Historical

Not used for CY2026 payment

ACA/HHS

HCC 010

Code-level coefficient reference

ESRD/PACE

HCC 10

Code-level coefficient reference

RXHCC

HCC 21

Code-level coefficient reference

Inclusion Terms

Official
  • Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma NOS
  • Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma with failed remission

Excludes 2

Official
  • Kaposi's sarcoma of lymph nodes (C46.3)Inherited from C81-C96
  • secondary and unspecified neoplasm of lymph nodes (C77.-)Inherited from C81-C96
  • secondary neoplasm of bone marrow (C79.52)Inherited from C81-C96
  • secondary neoplasm of spleen (C78.89)Inherited from C81-C96

Includes

Official

No Includes notes are included in this display for C86.30. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Excludes 1

Official
  • anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK negative (C84.7-)Inherited from C86
  • anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK positive (C84.6-)Inherited from C86
  • mature T/NK-cell lymphomas (C84.-)Inherited from C86
  • other specified types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (C85.8-)Inherited from C86

Code First

Official

No Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for C86.30. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Use Additional

Official

No Use Additional Code instructions are included in this display for C86.30. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Code Also

Official

No Code Also instructions are included in this display for C86.30. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance
Documentation must confirm the SPTCL diagnosis through deep skin biopsy including subcutaneous fat with immunophenotyping.
T-cell receptor phenotype (alpha-beta versus gamma-delta) should be documented as it affects prognosis.
Assessment for hemophagocytic syndrome, disease extent, treatment response, and active disease status must be recorded.

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance
Documentation must confirm the SPTCL diagnosis through deep skin biopsy including subcutaneous fat with immunophenotyping.
T-cell receptor phenotype (alpha-beta versus gamma-delta) should be documented as it affects prognosis.
Assessment for hemophagocytic syndrome, disease extent, treatment response, and active disease status must be recorded.

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance
The subcutaneous nodules of SPTCL may be clinically mistaken for benign panniculitis
ensure biopsy confirmation before coding. Do not confuse with other cutaneous T-cell lymphomas that have different ICD-10 codes. Document the T-cell receptor phenotype as gamma-delta SPTCL has a distinctly worse prognosis.

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance
C86.31 (SPTCL in remission) requires documented remission.
C84.A0-C84.A9 (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma) codes apply to other types of skin lymphomas such as mycosis fungoides.
L93.2 (panniculitis, unspecified) is a non-malignant condition that may initially be confused with SPTCL.

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 C86.30 an HCC code?

Yes. C86.30 (Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma not having achieved remission) maps to HCC 19, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Multiple Myeloma, and Other Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, with a source-labeled community non-dual aged reference coefficient of 1.798. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes. It is billable for payment year 2026.

Coder answer: C86.30 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 19, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Multiple Myeloma, and Other Cancers. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.

Code
C86.30
Description
Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma not having achieved remission
HCC (V28)
HCC 19 — Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Multiple Myeloma, and Other Cancers
RAF reference coefficient
1.798
Billable
Yes
Payment year
2026

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 19, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Multiple Myeloma, and Other Cancers
1.798
ESRDHCC 10, Lymphoma and Other Cancers
Not separately weighted
RxHCCHCC 21, Lymphomas and Other Hematologic Cancers
Not separately weighted

These are source-labeled model coefficients, not member totals. A category may still be removed by hierarchy or model cleanup rules. 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 context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains available for historical review.

Work C86.30 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT review for C86.30

For C86.30, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.

  • 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

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

C86.30 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for subcutaneous panniculitis-like t-cell lymphoma not having achieved remission. A rare lymphoma affecting the fatty tissue under the skin caused by abnormal T-cells that has not achieved remission. C86.30 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, C86.30 maps to Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Multiple Myeloma, and Other Cancers (HCC 19) with a source-labeled community, non-dual, aged reference coefficient of 1.798. For CY2026 non-PACE Medicare Advantage, CMS uses 100% of the 2024 CMS-HCC model (V28). PACE uses a separate model blend. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes.

Verify active disease status and lack of remission in documentation. For C86.30, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule. 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, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for C86.30 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

  • Verify active disease status and lack of remission in documentation
  • Distinguish from C86.31 which indicates remission

Clinical Significance

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a rare cutaneous lymphoma that infiltrates subcutaneous adipose tissue, mimicking panniculitis on clinical presentation. It typically presents with multiple subcutaneous nodules and may be complicated by hemophagocytic syndrome, a life-threatening condition. When remission is not achieved, the disease may follow an indolent or aggressive course depending on the T-cell receptor phenotype (alpha-beta versus gamma-delta).

Documentation Requirements

  • Documentation must confirm the SPTCL diagnosis through deep skin biopsy including subcutaneous fat with immunophenotyping.
  • T-cell receptor phenotype (alpha-beta versus gamma-delta) should be documented as it affects prognosis.
  • Assessment for hemophagocytic syndrome, disease extent, treatment response, and active disease status must be recorded.

Commonly Confused Codes

  • C86.31 (SPTCL in remission) requires documented remission.
  • C84.A0-C84.A9 (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma) codes apply to other types of skin lymphomas such as mycosis fungoides.
  • L93.2 (panniculitis, unspecified) is a non-malignant condition that may initially be confused with SPTCL.

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

C86.30 code history

Code setChange
FY2025 (effective Oct 1, 2024)Added to the code set

Source: official CMS ICD-10-CM order and addenda files, FY2016 through FY2027.

Also searched as

  • C86 30
  • C8630

For C86.30, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.

C86.30 maps to CMS-HCC V28 category 19, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Multiple Myeloma, and Other Cancers. See the ICD-10 to HCC mapping hub for how the V28 crosswalk works. The mapping identifies a payment HCC category for C86.30. Review its source-labeled HCC coefficient above, check the RAF Calculator with complete member context for CMS-HCC V28 PY2026, and confirm the documentation the chart needs before the code is submitted. HCC Buddy shows no RAF score unless every required source and calculation check passes.

Work C86.30 in HCC Buddy

Open C86.30 in the Code Book for the full Index-to-Tabular path, MEAT checklist, and V28 HCC mapping, or in the Encoder to code from a keyword search. Pro includes 7 days to try everything, no card required.