D03.39
BillableMelanoma in situ of other parts of face
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is D03.39 an HCC code?
Yes. D03.39 maps to Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors 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 D03.39
For D03.39 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 D03.39 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
D03.39 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for melanoma in situ of other parts of face. Early-stage melanoma confined to the skin surface on a specific area of the face such as the cheek, nose, forehead, or other facial locations. D03.39 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering in situ neoplasms (d00-d09).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, D03.39 maps to Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers (HCC 23) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.251. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, D03.39 maps to Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors (HCC 12) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.150. 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.
Use this code when the specific facial location is documented; always specify which part of the face when possible. Because D03.39 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 D03.39 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code when the specific facial location is documented; always specify which part of the face when possible
- •Distinguish from D03.30 (unspecified facial location) by ensuring the documentation identifies the particular facial area affected
Clinical Significance
Melanoma in situ of other parts of the face captures non-invasive melanocytic neoplasms on specified facial areas such as the cheek, nose, forehead, temple, or chin that have dedicated documentation but no more specific ICD-10-CM code. Lentigo maligna, the most common subtype in this location, occurs on chronically sun-damaged facial skin and can be extensive, requiring careful surgical planning. The face is one of the most common sites for melanoma in situ overall.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Biopsy-confirmed melanoma in situ with the specific facial subsite documented in the medical record.
- ✓Include the clinical subtype (lentigo maligna, superficial spreading), lesion dimensions, and margin adequacy.
- ✓Treatment modality (excision, Mohs, imiquimod) and follow-up surveillance plan should be recorded.