Question 1

What is ICD-10 code G96.810?

Accepted Answer

G96.810 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for intracranial hypotension, unspecified. Low pressure in the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord when the specific cause is not identified. G96.810 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the nervous system (g00-g99), within the section covering other disorders of the nervous system (g89-g99).

G96.810 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 is the default code when intracranial hypotension is documented without specifying spontaneous or other cause.

Question 2

Is G96.810 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. G96.810 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 G96.810 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. G96.810 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. G96.810 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 G96.810?

Accepted Answer

G96.810 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 model rewards G96.810 with a risk adjustment factor, it contributes zero to a Medicare Advantage beneficiary's RAF score in either version. Coders should check whether provider documentation supports a more specific child code that does map to a payment HCC.

Question 5

What should coders know when reporting G96.810?

Accepted Answer

This is the default code when intracranial hypotension is documented without specifying spontaneous or other cause Review clinical notes to determine if G96.811 or G96.819 would be more specific

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G96.810

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G96.810 ICD-10-CM Code: Intracranial hypotension, unspecified

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G96.810

Is G96.810 an HCC code?

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Open G96.810 in the Interactive Encoder