Skip to content
ICD-10-CM Code View

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)

C90.01

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

Multiple myeloma in remission

Multiple myeloma that is currently in remission, meaning the cancer is responding well to treatment.

Buddy presenting code insight

Buddy Insight

Multiple myeloma in remission indicates the plasma cell neoplasm has responded to treatment with significant reduction or disappearance of the monoclonal protein and normalization of bone marrow plasma cell percentage.

CMS-HCC V28

HCC 19

RAF 0.105

CMS-HCC V24

HCC 9

RAF 0.973

ACA/HHS

0

0

RAF 0

ESRD/PACE

HCC 9

RAF 0.0

RXHCC

HCC 16

RAF 0.0

Code Trumping

Basket needed

Code Book Path

Official
C90Multiple myeloma and malignant plasma cell neoplasms
C90.0Multiple myeloma
C90.01Multiple myeloma in remission

Inclusion Terms

Official
  • Kahler's disease
  • Medullary plasmacytoma
  • Myelomatosis
  • Plasma cell myeloma

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for C90.01 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official
C90.00Multiple myeloma not having achieved remission
C90.02Multiple myeloma in relapse

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for C90.01 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official
  • solitary myeloma (C90.3-)
  • solitary plasmactyoma (C90.3-)

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for C90.01 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for C90.01 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for C90.01 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance
Provider must document remission status with the specific level of response (partial, complete, stringent complete) supported by serum and urine protein electrophoresis, immunofixation, free light chain ratio, and potentially bone marrow biopsy.
Maintenance therapy regimen, surveillance schedule, and any ongoing treatment-related complications must be documented.

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance
Provider must document remission status with the specific level of response (partial, complete, stringent complete) supported by serum and urine protein electrophoresis, immunofixation, free light chain ratio, and potentially bone marrow biopsy.
Maintenance therapy regimen, surveillance schedule, and any ongoing treatment-related complications must be documented.

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance
Multiple myeloma is generally considered incurable even in remission
do not switch to a history code. Ensure the remission determination is based on IMWG response criteria, not merely improvement in symptoms. Maintenance therapy does not preclude remission status. Document the depth of remission achieved.

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance
C90.00 (multiple myeloma not in remission) indicates active disease.
C90.02 (multiple myeloma in relapse) indicates recurrence after remission.
Z85.79 (personal history of malignant neoplasm of lymphoid tissue) is only for definitively cured disease, which is rarely achievable in multiple myeloma.

Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.

Is C90.01 an HCC code?

Yes. C90.01 maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Lung and Other Severe Cancers under V24).

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 19Lymphoma and Other Cancers
0.105
V24HCC 9Lung and Other Severe Cancers
0.973
ESRDHCC 9Lung and Other Severe Cancers
0.000
RxHCCHCC 16Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Neoplasms
0.000

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 C90.01

For C90.01to 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 C90.01 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

What This Code Means

C90.01 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for multiple myeloma in remission. Multiple myeloma that is currently in remission, meaning the cancer is responding well to treatment. C90.01 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, C90.01 maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers (HCC 19) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.105. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, C90.01 maps to Lung and Other Severe Cancers (HCC 9) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.973. 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.

Fifth character '1' specifically indicates remission; ensure clinical documentation supports this status. Because C90.01 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 C90.01 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

  • Fifth character '1' specifically indicates remission; ensure clinical documentation supports this status
  • Remission status may be partial or complete; verify which type is documented if distinction is needed

Clinical Significance

Multiple myeloma in remission indicates the plasma cell neoplasm has responded to treatment with significant reduction or disappearance of the monoclonal protein and normalization of bone marrow plasma cell percentage. Remission may be classified as partial, very good partial, complete, or stringent complete based on IMWG response criteria. Even in remission, patients require ongoing monitoring for early relapse detection and management of treatment-related complications.

Documentation Requirements

  • Provider must document remission status with the specific level of response (partial, complete, stringent complete) supported by serum and urine protein electrophoresis, immunofixation, free light chain ratio, and potentially bone marrow biopsy.
  • Maintenance therapy regimen, surveillance schedule, and any ongoing treatment-related complications must be documented.

Commonly Confused Codes

  • C90.00 (multiple myeloma not in remission) indicates active disease.
  • C90.02 (multiple myeloma in relapse) indicates recurrence after remission.
  • Z85.79 (personal history of malignant neoplasm of lymphoid tissue) is only for definitively cured disease, which is rarely achievable in multiple myeloma.

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

Open C90.01 in the Interactive Encoder

See full code details, AI coding tips, HCC mappings, and related codes in our interactive encoder. Start your 14-day Pro trial — no credit card required.