E06.9 ICD-10-CM Code: Thyroiditis, unspecified
E06.9 is not a CMS-HCC payment code. MEAT criteria · RAF calculator · HCC coding software
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FY 2026 Apr update / Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E89) / Disorders of thyroid gland (E00-E07)
E06.9
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceThyroiditis, unspecified
This code describes inflammation of the thyroid gland when the specific type or cause is not documented or known. The thyroid is a gland in the neck that produces hormones affecting metabolism and body functions.
Buddy Insight
Unspecified thyroiditis is used when thyroid inflammation is documented but the specific type (acute, subacute, autoimmune, drug-induced, or other chronic) has not been determined or documented by the provider.
CMS-HCC V28
N/A—
Not mapped
CMS-HCC V24
N/A—
Not mapped
ACA/HHS
N/A—
Not mapped
ESRD/PACE
N/A—
Not mapped
RXHCC
MappedHCC 44
RAF 0.070
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for E06.9 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for E06.9 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for E06.9 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
Official- postpartum thyroiditis (O90.5)
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for E06.9 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for E06.9 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for E06.9 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
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 E06.9 an HCC code?
E06.9 is not in the CMS-HCC V28 or V24 community payment model, but it does map to Thyroid and Parathyroid Disorders under the Part D RxHCC model.
- Code
- E06.9
- Description
- Thyroiditis, unspecified
- HCC (V28)
- No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
- RAF
- —
- Billable
- Yes
- Payment year
- 2026
HCC Category Mapping
Each model's RAF is its CMS base weight for that model's standard population, so 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 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.
Work E06.9 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT Criteria for E06.9
For E06.9 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 E06.9 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
E06.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for thyroiditis, unspecified. This code describes inflammation of the thyroid gland when the specific type or cause is not documented or known. The thyroid is a gland in the neck that produces hormones affecting metabolism and body functions. E06.9 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (e00-e89), within the section covering disorders of thyroid gland (e00-e07).
E06.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to a payment HCC under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions but it does not contribute to a beneficiary's RAF score and therefore does not affect risk-adjusted payments to the plan.
This code does not map to a CMS-HCC V28 payment category. Capture depends on documentation that supports the diagnosis; verify the HCC assignment against the current CMS mapping for the applicable payment year. Coders reviewing E06.9 should check whether additional documentation would support a more specific child code in the same hierarchy that does map to a payment HCC, capturing the correct specificity is the highest-impact RAF improvement available within accurate coding.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for E06.9 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code only when the type of thyroiditis (such as Hashimoto's, postpartum, or acute) cannot be determined from the medical record; always query the provider for more specific documentation if available
- •Review the clinical notes carefully for any mention of symptoms, lab results, or triggers that might indicate a more specific thyroiditis subtype, as E06.9 is a less specific code that may affect reimbursement
Clinical Significance
Unspecified thyroiditis is used when thyroid inflammation is documented but the specific type (acute, subacute, autoimmune, drug-induced, or other chronic) has not been determined or documented by the provider. This code represents a diagnostic gap that should ideally be resolved through additional clinical workup including thyroid antibodies, inflammatory markers, and imaging. Specificity in thyroiditis classification directly impacts treatment selection.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Document the clinical evidence of thyroiditis (thyroid tenderness, laboratory abnormalities, imaging findings) and the reason the specific type has not been established.
- ✓Include plans for further diagnostic evaluation.
- ✓Record current thyroid function status and any empiric treatment initiated.