Question 1

What is ICD-10 code H16.409?

Accepted Answer

H16.409 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified corneal neovascularization, unspecified eye. Abnormal new blood vessel growth in the cornea of an unspecified eye without a specified underlying cause. H16.409 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).

H16.409 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 a default code when eye laterality cannot be determined from documentation.

Question 2

Is H16.409 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. H16.409 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 H16.409 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. H16.409 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. H16.409 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 H16.409?

Accepted Answer

H16.409 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 H16.409 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 H16.409?

Accepted Answer

This is a default code when eye laterality cannot be determined from documentation Query the provider to clarify which eye is affected to assign a more specific code

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H16.409

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H16.409 ICD-10-CM Code: Unspecified corneal neovascularization, unspecified eye

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H16.409

Is H16.409 an HCC code?

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Work H16.409 in HCC Buddy