D3A.024
BillableBenign carcinoid tumor of the descending colon
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is D3A.024 an HCC code?
Yes. D3A.024 maps to Bladder, Colorectal, and Other Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model.
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 D3A.024
For D3A.024to 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 D3A.024 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
D3A.024 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for benign carcinoid tumor of the descending colon. A benign neuroendocrine tumor located in the descending colon, the vertical section of the large intestine on the left side. D3A.024 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering benign neuroendocrine tumors (d3a).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, D3A.024 maps to Bladder, Colorectal, and Other Cancers (HCC 22) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.363. D3A.024 was not retained as a payment HCC under the older V24 model, so V28 introduced or recategorized it during the 2024–2026 phase-in. 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 the specific location is documented as descending colon to avoid confusion with sigmoid colon. Because D3A.024 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 D3A.024 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Verify the specific location is documented as descending colon to avoid confusion with sigmoid colon
- •Document any clinical findings related to the tumor's presence
Clinical Significance
Benign carcinoid tumors of the descending colon are uncommon neuroendocrine neoplasms with an indolent clinical course. These tumors are typically found incidentally during colonoscopy and have a very low risk of metastasis when confirmed as benign, though they require periodic endoscopic surveillance.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓The provider must document the descending colon as the specific site, supported by endoscopy or surgical pathology findings.
- ✓The pathology report should confirm benign neuroendocrine differentiation, tumor size, and mitotic rate.
- ✓Any functional symptoms or hormonal activity should be noted.
Commonly Confused Codes
- •C7A.024 (malignant carcinoid tumor of descending colon) is used when malignant behavior is confirmed.
- •D3A.025 (benign carcinoid of sigmoid colon) should be distinguished based on precise anatomical location.
- •D3A.029 (benign carcinoid of large intestine, unspecified) should only be used when the specific site cannot be determined.