G71.039 ICD-10-CM Code: Limb girdle muscular dystrophy, unspecified
G71.039 maps to CMS-HCC V28 197. A source-labeled RAF reference is available. Confirm the documented diagnosis and applicable coding requirements. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · free HCC coding tools
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FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the nervous system (G00-G99) / Diseases of myoneural junction and muscle (G70-G73)
G71.039
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceLimb girdle muscular dystrophy, unspecified
A genetic muscle weakness disorder affecting the hip and shoulder muscles where the specific genetic cause has not been identified or is not documented.
Buddy Insight
Limb girdle muscular dystrophy, unspecified indicates proximal muscle weakness in a limb girdle pattern where the specific genetic subtype has not been determined.
CMS-HCC V28
MappedHCC 197
Coefficient HCC 197: 0.426 (Community Non-Dual Aged (CNA))
CMS-HCC V24
HistoricalHistorical
Not used for CY2026 payment
ACA/HHS
MappedHCC 117
Code-level coefficient reference
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 76
Code-level coefficient reference
RXHCC
N/A—
Not mapped
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialNo inclusion terms are included in this display for G71.039. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Excludes 2
Official- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)Inherited from G00-G99, G71
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)Inherited from G00-G99, G71
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)Inherited from G00-G99, G71
- congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)Inherited from G00-G99, G71
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)Inherited from G00-G99, G71
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)Inherited from G00-G99, G71
- neoplasms (C00-D49)Inherited from G00-G99, G71
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)Inherited from G00-G99, G71
- arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (Q74.3)Inherited from G00-G99, G71
- metabolic disorders (E70-E88)Inherited from G00-G99, G71
- myositis (M60.-)Inherited from G00-G99, G71
Related Codes
Includes
OfficialNo Includes notes are included in this display for G71.039. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Excludes 1
OfficialNo Excludes 1 notes are included in this display for G71.039. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Code First
OfficialNo Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for G71.039. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Use Additional
OfficialNo Use Additional Code instructions are included in this display for G71.039. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Code Also
OfficialNo Code Also instructions are included in this display for G71.039. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
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 G71.039 an HCC code?
Yes. G71.039 (Limb girdle muscular dystrophy, unspecified) maps to HCC 197, Muscular Dystrophy under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, with a source-labeled community non-dual aged reference coefficient of 0.426. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes. It is billable for payment year 2026.
Coder answer: G71.039 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 197, Muscular Dystrophy. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.
- Code
- G71.039
- Description
- Limb girdle muscular dystrophy, unspecified
- HCC (V28)
- HCC 197 — Muscular Dystrophy
- RAF reference coefficient
- 0.426
- Billable
- Yes
- Payment year
- 2026
HCC Category Mapping
These are source-labeled model coefficients, not member totals. A category may still be removed by hierarchy or model cleanup rules. 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 context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains available for historical review.
Work G71.039 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT review for G71.039
For G71.039, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.
- 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
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
G71.039 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for limb girdle muscular dystrophy, unspecified. A genetic muscle weakness disorder affecting the hip and shoulder muscles where the specific genetic cause has not been identified or is not documented. G71.039 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the nervous system (g00-g99), within the section covering diseases of myoneural junction and muscle (g70-g73).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, G71.039 maps to Muscular Dystrophy (HCC 197) with a source-labeled community, non-dual, aged reference coefficient of 0.426. For CY2026 non-PACE Medicare Advantage, CMS uses 100% of the 2024 CMS-HCC model (V28). PACE uses a separate model blend. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes.
Use this code only when the genetic subtype cannot be determined despite clinical diagnosis. For G71.039, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule. 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, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for G71.039 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 genetic subtype cannot be determined despite clinical diagnosis
- •Encourage genetic testing and documentation to allow for more specific coding in the future
Clinical Significance
Limb girdle muscular dystrophy, unspecified indicates proximal muscle weakness in a limb girdle pattern where the specific genetic subtype has not been determined. This code should be a placeholder pending genetic workup results. It still carries HCC value and reflects a patient with significant progressive neuromuscular disease requiring ongoing management.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Clinical features consistent with limb girdle muscular dystrophy: proximal weakness, elevated creatine kinase
- ✓Documentation of diagnostic workup status: genetic testing pending, refused, or unavailable
- ✓Exclusion of other causes of proximal weakness
- ✓Functional status and disease progression
- ✓Referral to genetics or neuromuscular specialist if not already done
- ✓Provider's explicit diagnosis of limb girdle muscular dystrophy
Commonly Confused Codes
- •G71.00: Muscular dystrophy, unspecified is even more broad; use G71.039 when the limb girdle pattern is identified
- •G71.031-G71.035: Specific limb girdle subtypes should be used when genetic testing identifies the cause
- •G71.038: Other limb girdle muscular dystrophy is for identified subtypes without dedicated codes
- •G72.9: Myopathy, unspecified does not capture the genetic dystrophic nature