D42.1 ICD-10-CM Code: Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of spinal meninges
HCC Buddy Code Card
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FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Neoplasms of uncertain behavior, polycythemia vera and myelodysplastic syndromes (D37-D48)
D42.1
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceNeoplasm of uncertain behavior of spinal meninges
A growth in the membrane surrounding the spinal cord (spinal meninges) that cannot yet be classified as definitely cancer or definitely benign.
Buddy Insight
Neoplasms of uncertain behavior of the spinal meninges represent tumors with atypical histological features that prevent definitive benign or malignant classification.
CMS-HCC V28
MappedHCC 23
RAF 0.251
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 12
RAF 0.150
ACA/HHS
00
RAF 0
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 12
RAF 0.0
RXHCC
MappedHCC 22
RAF 0.0
Code Trumping
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Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for D42.1 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for D42.1 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for D42.1 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for D42.1 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for D42.1 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for D42.1 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for D42.1 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
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 D42.1 an HCC code?
Yes. D42.1 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 D42.1
For D42.1to 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 D42.1 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
D42.1 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for neoplasm of uncertain behavior of spinal meninges. A growth in the membrane surrounding the spinal cord (spinal meninges) that cannot yet be classified as definitely cancer or definitely benign. D42.1 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering neoplasms of uncertain behavior, polycythemia vera and myelodysplastic syndromes (d37-d48).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, D42.1 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, D42.1 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.
This code specifically refers to the meninges covering the spinal cord, not the brain. Because D42.1 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 D42.1 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
Clinical Significance
Neoplasms of uncertain behavior of the spinal meninges represent tumors with atypical histological features that prevent definitive benign or malignant classification. These tumors can cause neurological symptoms through spinal cord compression and require close monitoring due to recurrence risk, particularly after incomplete resection.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation must specify the spinal cord meninges as the tumor location, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and surgical pathology.
- ✓The pathology report should describe features leading to uncertain behavior classification, including mitotic rate and cellular atypia.
- ✓The spinal level (cervical, thoracic, lumbar) should be documented when known.