Question 1

What is ICD-10 code H18.333?

Accepted Answer

H18.333 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for rupture in descemet's membrane, bilateral. A rupture or tear in Descemet's membrane, which is a thin layer inside the cornea of the eye, occurring in both eyes. This condition can cause corneal swelling, vision problems, and may require surgical repair. H18.333 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).

H18.333 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.

Verify that the rupture is documented as bilateral (both eyes) before assigning this code; if only one eye is affected, use the unilateral code H18.331 instead.

Question 2

Is H18.333 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. H18.333 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 H18.333 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. H18.333 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. H18.333 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 H18.333?

Accepted Answer

H18.333 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 H18.333 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 H18.333?

Accepted Answer

Verify that the rupture is documented as bilateral (both eyes) before assigning this code; if only one eye is affected, use the unilateral code H18.331 instead Determine if the rupture is traumatic or spontaneous, as this may affect documentation and any associated injury codes that should be reported

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H18.333

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H18.333 ICD-10-CM Code: Rupture in Descemet's membrane, bilateral

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H18.333

Is H18.333 an HCC code?

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Child Codes

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Work H18.333 in HCC Buddy