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E13.618

Billable

Other specified diabetes mellitus with other diabetic arthropathy

Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)

Is E13.618 an HCC code?

Yes. E13.618 maps to Diabetes with Chronic Complications under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Diabetes with Chronic Complications under V24).

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 37Diabetes with Chronic Complications
0.245
V24HCC 18Diabetes with Chronic Complications
0.302
ESRDHCC 18Diabetes with Chronic Complications
0.000
RxHCCHCC 30Diabetes with Complications
0.000

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 E13.618

For E13.618 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 E13.618 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

What This Code Means

E13.618 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other specified diabetes mellitus with other diabetic arthropathy. A type of diabetes (not type 1 or type 2) that causes joint problems or arthritis from causes other than nerve damage. E13.618 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (e00-e89), within the section covering diabetes mellitus (e08-e13).

Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, E13.618 maps to Diabetes with Chronic Complications (HCC 37) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.245. Under the older V24 model, E13.618 mapped to the same category but with a base RAF weight of 0.302 — V28 recalibrated weights across the entire model. 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 diabetic arthropathy is present but not specifically neuropathic in nature. Because E13.618 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 E13.618 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

  • Use this code when diabetic arthropathy is present but not specifically neuropathic in nature
  • Document the type of arthropathy and affected joints for complete clinical picture

Clinical Significance

E13.618 identifies other diabetic arthropathy in other specified diabetes mellitus, covering joint manifestations beyond neuropathic arthropathy. These may include limited joint mobility (diabetic cheiroarthropathy), adhesive capsulitis, or other musculoskeletal manifestations directly attributable to the metabolic effects of secondary diabetes.

Documentation Requirements

  • The provider must document secondary diabetes, the specific joint condition, and its causal relationship to diabetes.
  • Clinical examination findings describing the arthropathy, including affected joints, range of motion limitations, and functional impact, should be documented.

Commonly Confused Codes

Code Hierarchy

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