Question 1

What is ICD-10 code H44.731?

Accepted Answer

H44.731 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for retained (nonmagnetic) (old) foreign body in lens, right eye. A nonmagnetic foreign object that has been retained in the lens of the right eye for an extended period. H44.731 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the eye and adnexa (h00-h59), within the section covering disorders of vitreous body and globe (h43-h44).

H44.731 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.

Confirm the foreign body location is specifically in the lens and not in other ocular structures.

Question 2

Is H44.731 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. H44.731 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 H44.731 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. H44.731 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. H44.731 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 H44.731?

Accepted Answer

H44.731 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 H44.731 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 H44.731?

Accepted Answer

Confirm the foreign body location is specifically in the lens and not in other ocular structures Document whether the retained object is causing vision impairment or other complications for complete clinical picture

HCC Buddy Code Card

H44.731

Is H44.731 an HCC code?

What This Code Means

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Code Hierarchy

Open H44.731 in the Interactive Encoder

H44.731 ICD-10-CM Code: Retained (nonmagnetic) (old) foreign body in lens, right eye

HCC Buddy Code Card

H44.731

Is H44.731 an HCC code?

What This Code Means

Coding Tips

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

Open H44.731 in the Interactive Encoder