Question 1

What is ICD-10 code H44.701?

Accepted Answer

H44.701 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Unspecified retained (old) intraocular foreign body, nonmagnetic, right eye. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the eye and adnexa (h00-h59). H44.701 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. H44.701 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.

Question 2

Is H44.701 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. H44.701 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 H44.701 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. H44.701 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. H44.701 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

Which HCC does H44.701 map to under V28?

Accepted Answer

H44.701 does not map to a CMS-HCC V28 payment category. Check the current CMS-HCC V28 model file for payment year 2026 rather than an older V24 tip sheet.

Question 5

What does H44.701 pay in RAF?

Accepted Answer

H44.701 has no separately stated V28 community RAF weight. If it is not a V28 payment HCC, it adds nothing to a community RAF score.

Question 6

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for H44.701?

Accepted Answer

H44.701 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 community model rewards H44.701 with a risk adjustment factor, it contributes zero to a Medicare Advantage beneficiary's V28/V24 community RAF score in either version. Coders should check whether provider documentation supports a more specific child code that does map to a community payment HCC.

Question 7

What documentation supports H44.701?

Accepted Answer

Verify whether the foreign body is magnetic or nonmagnetic, as this distinction determines code selection (H44.60 series for magnetic vs. H44.70 series for nonmagnetic) Confirm the laterality (right eye, left eye, or bilateral) and document the duration/chronicity to support the 'retained (old)' designation; if the foreign body was recently removed, use a different code H44.701 is not a CMS-HCC payment code, so MEAT is not the payment hook. Documentation still has to support the diagnosis if you report it.

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H44.701

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H44.701 ICD-10-CM Code: Unspecified retained (old) intraocular foreign body, nonmagnetic, right eye

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H44.701

Is H44.701 an HCC code?

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What This Code Means

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Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

Work H44.701 in HCC Buddy