What is ICD-10 code H40.239?

H40.239 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Intermittent angle-closure glaucoma, unspecified eye. A recurring form of glaucoma where the drainage angle periodically closes, causing temporary increases in eye pressure, but the specific eye or eyes affected are not documented. H40.239 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. H40.239 is part of the FY2026 ICD-10-CM code set published by the CMS National Center for Health Statistics and used on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial claims in the United States.

Yes. H40.239 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. H40.239 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.

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for H40.239?

H40.239 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 H40.239 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.

What should coders know when reporting H40.239?

Use this code only when eye laterality cannot be determined from documentation Query the provider to determine if the condition is unilateral or bilateral for more specific coding

H40.239: Intermittent angle-closure glaucoma, unspecified eye — ICD-10

ICD-10-CM Code View

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Code lookupH40.239Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the eye and adnexa (H00-H59) / Glaucoma (H40-H42)

H40.239

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Intermittent angle-closure glaucoma, unspecified eye

A recurring form of glaucoma where the drainage angle periodically closes, causing temporary increases in eye pressure, but the specific eye or eyes affected are not documented.

Buddy Insight

Intermittent angle-closure glaucoma, unspecified eye is the least specific code for intermittent angle-closure glaucoma, used only when laterality cannot be determined from the documentation.

CMS-HCC V28

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

CMS-HCC V24

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

ACA/HHS

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

ESRD/PACE

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

RXHCC

Mapped

HCC 244

Glaucoma, Other

RAF 0.0

Code Trumping

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Code Book Path

Official

H40.2Primary angle-closure glaucoma

H40.23Intermittent angle-closure glaucoma

H40.239Intermittent angle-closure glaucoma, unspecified eye

Inclusion Terms

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for H40.239 in this effective period.

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for H40.239 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official

H40.231Intermittent angle-closure glaucoma, right eye

H40.232Intermittent angle-closure glaucoma, left eye

H40.233Intermittent angle-closure glaucoma, bilateral

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for H40.239 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for H40.239 in this effective period.

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for H40.239 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for H40.239 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for H40.239 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Documentation of intermittent angle-closure glaucoma without laterality specification

Gonioscopy findings confirming angle closure (even if laterality not specified in the record)

Clinical rationale for why laterality cannot be determined

Query to the examining ophthalmologist for laterality clarification

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Documentation of intermittent angle-closure glaucoma without laterality specification

Gonioscopy findings confirming angle closure (even if laterality not specified in the record)

Clinical rationale for why laterality cannot be determined

Query to the examining ophthalmologist for laterality clarification

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Using this code when gonioscopy documentation specifies which eye has angle closure

Not reviewing ophthalmology procedure notes that typically contain laterality information

Defaulting to unspecified when bilateral involvement is the clinical reality

Using this code because only one note mentions glaucoma without laterality, when other notes in the record specify the eye

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

H40.231-H40.233 — Laterality-specific intermittent angle-closure glaucoma: always preferred when laterality is documented

H40.9 — Unspecified glaucoma: even less specific, does not capture the angle-closure type

H40.159 — Residual stage of open-angle glaucoma, unspecified eye: different glaucoma type and stage

H40.00X0 — Preglaucoma, unspecified, unspecified eye: suspect status, not confirmed glaucoma

Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.

Is H40.239 an HCC code?

No. H40.239 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any HCC category in V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC.

HCC Category Mapping

RxHCCHCC 244, Glaucoma, Other

0.000

RAF weights shown are the community, non-dual, aged base weights from the CMS risk adjustment model file. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member segment, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains in use during the transition and for historical data.

Work H40.239 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT Criteria for H40.239

For H40.239to count as a valid HCC diagnosis in a given encounter, the provider's documentation must show MEAT: Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat. A diagnosis from a prior year does not carry forward automatically, it has to be re-documented and supported each calendar year.

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

Only one of M/E/A/T is required to support the code, but the documentation must be specific enough to show that the provider actually addressed H40.239 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

H40.239 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for intermittent angle-closure glaucoma, unspecified eye. A recurring form of glaucoma where the drainage angle periodically closes, causing temporary increases in eye pressure, but the specific eye or eyes affected are not documented. H40.239 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the eye and adnexa (h00-h59), within the section covering glaucoma (h40-h42).

H40.239 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.

In the RxHCC model, H40.239 maps to RxHCC 244 (Glaucoma, Other) with a RAF weight of 0.0. No V28, V24, or ESRD HCC mappings exist. The HCC mapping is identical to laterality-specific codes. While risk adjustment value is unchanged, unspecified laterality increases audit vulnerability and may indicate documentation quality concerns that affect overall coding accuracy metrics.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for H40.239 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 eye laterality cannot be determined from documentation
•Query the provider to determine if the condition is unilateral or bilateral for more specific coding

Clinical Significance

Intermittent angle-closure glaucoma, unspecified eye is the least specific code for intermittent angle-closure glaucoma, used only when laterality cannot be determined from the documentation. This code should rarely be necessary in practice since gonioscopy inherently documents which eye(s) are examined and affected. It represents a documentation improvement opportunity.

Documentation Requirements

✓Documentation of intermittent angle-closure glaucoma without laterality specification
✓Gonioscopy findings confirming angle closure (even if laterality not specified in the record)
✓Clinical rationale for why laterality cannot be determined
✓Query to the examining ophthalmologist for laterality clarification
✓Treatment plan for the angle-closure condition

Commonly Confused Codes

•H40.231-H40.233: Laterality-specific intermittent angle-closure glaucoma: always preferred when laterality is documented
•H40.9: Unspecified glaucoma: even less specific, does not capture the angle-closure type
•H40.159: Residual stage of open-angle glaucoma, unspecified eye: different glaucoma type and stage
•H40.00X0: Preglaucoma, unspecified, unspecified eye: suspect status, not confirmed glaucoma