What is ICD-10 code D33.2?

D33.2 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Benign neoplasm of brain, unspecified. A non-cancerous brain tumor when the specific location within the brain has not been determined or documented. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49). D33.2 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. D33.2 is part of the FY2026 ICD-10-CM code set published by the CMS National Center for Health Statistics and used on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial claims in the United States.

Yes. D33.2 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can be reported on professional and institutional claims as a primary or secondary diagnosis when the provider documentation supports the specific condition described. Billable codes in ICD-10-CM are coded to the highest level of specificity available for the documented diagnosis. D33.2 is current for fiscal year 2026 and remains in the active CMS ICD-10-CM code set published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Which HCC does D33.2 map to under V28?

D33.2 maps to CMS-HCC V28 HCC 23 (Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors). The category numbers, labels, and conditions come from the CMS-HCC V28 model file for payment year 2026.

2026 ICD-10-CM D33.2: Benign neoplasm of brain

D33.2 maps to CMS-HCC V28 23. A source-labeled RAF reference is available. Confirm the documented diagnosis and applicable coding requirements. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · free HCC coding tools

ICD-10-CM Code View

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Code lookupD33.2

Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Benign neoplasms, except benign neuroendocrine tumors (D10-D36)

D33.2

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

Benign neoplasm of brain, unspecified

A non-cancerous brain tumor when the specific location within the brain has not been determined or documented.

Buddy Insight

Benign neoplasm of the brain, unspecified, is used when a benign brain tumor is documented but the specific location (supratentorial vs.

Overview Risk Models Code Book Documentation Audit Notes Edition comparison

CMS-HCC V28

Mapped

HCC 23

Prostate, Breast, and Other C...

Code-level coefficient reference

CMS-HCC V24

Historical

Not used for standard CY2026 Medicare Advantage payment. Select a historical period to review V24.

Not used for CY2026 payment

ACA/HHS

Mapped

HCC 012

HHS-HCC 012 adult, RAF varies...

Code-level coefficient reference

ESRD/PACE

Mapped

HCC 12

Breast/Prostate/and Other Can...

Code-level coefficient reference

RXHCC

Mapped

HCC 22

Prostate, Breast, Bladder, an...

Code-level coefficient reference

Code Book Path

Official

D33Benign neoplasm of brain and other parts of central nervous system D33.2Benign neoplasm of brain, unspecified

Inclusion Terms

Official

No inclusion terms are included in this display for D33.2. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Excludes 2

Official

No Excludes 2 notes are included in this display for D33.2. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Related Codes

Official

D33.0Benign neoplasm of brain, supratentorial D33.1Benign neoplasm of brain, infratentorial D33.3Benign neoplasm of cranial nerves D33.4Benign neoplasm of spinal cord D33.7Benign neoplasm of other specified parts of central nervous system

Includes

Official

No Includes notes are included in this display for D33.2. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Excludes 1

Official

angioma (D18.0-)Inherited from D33
benign neoplasm of meninges (D32.-)Inherited from D33
benign neoplasm of peripheral nerves and autonomic nervous system (D36.1-)Inherited from D33
hemangioma (D18.0-)Inherited from D33
neurofibromatosis (Q85.0-)Inherited from D33
retro-ocular benign neoplasm (D31.6-)Inherited from D33

Code First

Official

No Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for D33.2. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Use Additional

Official

No Use Additional Code instructions are included in this display for D33.2. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Code Also

Official

No Code Also instructions are included in this display for D33.2. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

At minimum, documentation of a benign brain tumor from imaging or pathology is required.

Every effort should be made to determine whether the tumor is supratentorial (D33.0) or infratentorial (D33.1) by reviewing MRI reports.

Query the provider or radiologist if the location is not specified.

Document the clinical impact and management plan.

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

At minimum, documentation of a benign brain tumor from imaging or pathology is required.

Every effort should be made to determine whether the tumor is supratentorial (D33.0) or infratentorial (D33.1) by reviewing MRI reports.

Query the provider or radiologist if the location is not specified.

Document the clinical impact and management plan.

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

MRI reports almost always specify the tumor location, so this unspecified code should rarely be necessary. Review all available imaging before assigning D33.

Do not use this code for meningeal tumors (D32 series) or cranial nerve tumors (D33.3). Payers may request additional documentation when this unspecified code is submitted.

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

D33.0 (supratentorial) and D33.1 (infratentorial) are preferred when location is specified

D33.9 (benign CNS neoplasm, unspecified) is even less specific and covers the entire CNS

D43.2 (brain, uncertain behavior) is for tumors where benign vs. malignant is unclear.

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 D33.2 an HCC code?

Yes. D33.2 (Benign neoplasm of brain, unspecified) maps to HCC 23, Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, with a source-labeled community non-dual aged reference coefficient of 0.186. 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: D33.2 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 23, Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.

Code: D33.2
Description: Benign neoplasm of brain, unspecified
HCC (V28): HCC 23 — Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors
RAF reference coefficient: 0.186
Billable: Yes
Payment year: 2026

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 23, Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors

0.186

ESRDHCC 12, Breast/Prostate/and Other Cancers and Tumors

Not separately weighted

RxHCCHCC 22, Prostate, Breast, Bladder, and Other Cancers and Tumors

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 D33.2 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT review for D33.2

For D33.2, 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

D33.2 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for benign neoplasm of brain, unspecified. A non-cancerous brain tumor when the specific location within the brain has not been determined or documented. D33.2 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering benign neoplasms, except benign neuroendocrine tumors (d10-d36).

Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, D33.2 maps to Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors (HCC 23) with a source-labeled community, non-dual, aged reference coefficient of 0.186. No V24 mapping is shown for D33.2; use the applicable model and payment year when reviewing the V28 mapping. 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.

This is an unspecified code; attempt to obtain clarification on whether the tumor is supratentorial or infratentorial. For D33.2, 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 D33.2 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•This is an unspecified code; attempt to obtain clarification on whether the tumor is supratentorial or infratentorial
•Use only when the provider documentation does not specify the anatomical location within the brain

Clinical Significance

Benign neoplasm of the brain, unspecified, is used when a benign brain tumor is documented but the specific location (supratentorial vs. infratentorial) is not specified in the medical record. This code represents an incomplete documentation scenario, as modern neuroimaging typically localizes brain tumors precisely. It may be appropriate during initial evaluation before definitive imaging is obtained.

Documentation Requirements

✓At minimum, documentation of a benign brain tumor from imaging or pathology is required.
✓Every effort should be made to determine whether the tumor is supratentorial (D33.0) or infratentorial (D33.1) by reviewing MRI reports.
✓Query the provider or radiologist if the location is not specified.
✓Document the clinical impact and management plan.

Commonly Confused Codes

•D33.0 (supratentorial) and D33.1 (infratentorial) are preferred when location is specified
•D33.9 (benign CNS neoplasm, unspecified) is even less specific and covers the entire CNS
•D43.2 (brain, uncertain behavior) is for tumors where benign vs. malignant is unclear.