H16.029 ICD-10-CM Code: Ring corneal ulcer, unspecified eye

H16.029 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for ring corneal ulcer, unspecified eye. A ring-shaped ulcer (open sore) that forms around the outer edge of the cornea (the clear front part of the eye), but the specific eye affected is not documented. This type of ulcer can cause pain, redness, and vision problems if left untreated. H16.029 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the eye and adnexa (h00-h59), within the section covering disorders of sclera, cornea, iris and ciliary body (h15-h22).

H16.029 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.

Use this code only when the documentation does not specify whether the right eye (H16.021), left eye (H16.022), or bilateral eyes (H16.023) are affected; always attempt to clarify laterality with the provider for more specific coding.