Question 1

What is ICD-10 code F17.229?

Accepted Answer

F17.229 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Nicotine dependence, chewing tobacco, with unspecified nicotine-induced disorders. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders (f01-f99). F17.229 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. F17.229 is part of the FY2026 ICD-10-CM code set published by the CMS National Center for Health Statistics and used on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial claims in the United States.

Question 2

Is F17.229 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. F17.229 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any payment HCC category under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can still be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions, but it does not contribute to the beneficiary's Risk Adjustment Factor (RAF) score and therefore does not affect the risk-adjusted capitation payment to the plan. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026.

Question 3

Is F17.229 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. F17.229 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can be reported on professional and institutional claims as a primary or secondary diagnosis when the provider documentation supports the specific condition described. Billable codes in ICD-10-CM are coded to the highest level of specificity available for the documented diagnosis. F17.229 is current for fiscal year 2026 and remains in the active CMS ICD-10-CM code set published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Question 4

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for F17.229?

Accepted Answer

F17.229 does not map to a payment HCC under either the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model or the older V24 model. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition. Because neither community model rewards F17.229 with a risk adjustment factor, it contributes zero to a Medicare Advantage beneficiary's V28/V24 community RAF score in either version. Coders should check whether provider documentation supports a more specific child code that does map to a community payment HCC.

Question 5

What should coders know when reporting F17.229?

Accepted Answer

Query the provider if the specific nicotine-induced disorder can be identified (such as nicotine-induced anxiety, sleep disorder, or other condition) as this would allow for more precise coding with a fifth character specification Verify that the patient's tobacco use is specifically chewing tobacco rather than other forms; if the type is unclear or involves multiple tobacco products, confirm with documentation before coding

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F17.229

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F17.229 ICD-10-CM Code: Nicotine dependence, chewing tobacco, with unspecified nicotine-induced disorders

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F17.229

Is F17.229 an HCC code?

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What This Code Means

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Work F17.229 in HCC Buddy