E27.9 ICD-10-CM Code: Disorder of adrenal gland, unspecified
E27.9 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 other endocrine glands (E20-E35)
E27.9
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceDisorder of adrenal gland, unspecified
This code is used when a patient has a problem with their adrenal glands (small glands that sit on top of the kidneys and produce hormones), but the specific type of disorder has not been identified or documented. It serves as a catch-all code when the exact adrenal condition is unclear.
Buddy Insight
Unspecified disorder of the adrenal gland indicates recognized adrenal pathology without sufficient documentation to characterize the type, nature, or impact of the dysfunction.
CMS-HCC V28
N/A—
Not mapped
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 23
RAF 0.194
ACA/HHS
MappedHCC 30
Varies by metal level
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 23
RAF 0.036
RXHCC
MappedHCC 43
RAF 0.063
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for E27.9 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for E27.9 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for E27.9 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for E27.9 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for E27.9 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for E27.9 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for E27.9 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 E27.9 an HCC code?
Yes. E27.9 maps to Other Significant Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders under the V24 model but is not retained in V28.
- Code
- E27.9
- Description
- Disorder of adrenal gland, 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 E27.9 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT Criteria for E27.9
For E27.9 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 E27.9 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
E27.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for disorder of adrenal gland, unspecified. This code is used when a patient has a problem with their adrenal glands (small glands that sit on top of the kidneys and produce hormones), but the specific type of disorder has not been identified or documented. It serves as a catch-all code when the exact adrenal condition is unclear. E27.9 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (e00-e89), within the section covering disorders of other endocrine glands (e20-e35).
Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, E27.9 maps to Other Significant Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (HCC 23) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.194. 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 only when the specific adrenal disorder cannot be determined from the medical record; always attempt to obtain more specific documentation from the provider before coding to a more precise diagnosis code. Because E27.9 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 E27.9 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 specific adrenal disorder cannot be determined from the medical record; always attempt to obtain more specific documentation from the provider before coding to a more precise diagnosis code
- •Review the clinical documentation carefully for any mention of symptoms like fatigue, weakness, or abnormal lab values that might indicate a more specific adrenal condition such as Addison's disease or Cushing's syndrome
Clinical Significance
Unspecified disorder of the adrenal gland indicates recognized adrenal pathology without sufficient documentation to characterize the type, nature, or impact of the dysfunction. Given the wide spectrum of adrenal disorders ranging from life-threatening insufficiency to incidental findings, specificity is essential for appropriate management.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Query the provider for specifics about the adrenal disorder.
- ✓Document any available imaging findings, hormone levels (cortisol, aldosterone, catecholamines, androgens), clinical symptoms, and planned diagnostic workup.