I44.2 ICD-10-CM Code: Atrioventricular block, complete
HCC Buddy Code Card
Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.
FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) / Other forms of heart disease (I30-I5A)
I44.2
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceAtrioventricular block, complete
A severe heart rhythm problem where no electrical signals pass between the upper and lower chambers, requiring the lower chambers to beat independently at a slower rate.
Buddy Insight
Complete atrioventricular block (third-degree heart block) is a severe conduction disorder where no electrical impulses pass from the atria to the ventricles.
CMS-HCC V28
MappedHCC 238
RAF 0.0
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 96
RAF 0.282
ACA/HHS
00
RAF 0
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 96
RAF 0.0
RXHCC
00
RAF 0
Code Trumping
Basket needed
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
Official- Complete heart block NOS
- Third degree block
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for I44.2 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for I44.2 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for I44.2 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for I44.2 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for I44.2 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for I44.2 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
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 I44.2 an HCC code?
Yes. I44.2 maps to Specified Heart Arrhythmias under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Specified Heart Arrhythmias under V24).
HCC Category Mapping
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.
MEAT Criteria for I44.2
For I44.2to 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 I44.2 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
I44.2 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for atrioventricular block, complete. A severe heart rhythm problem where no electrical signals pass between the upper and lower chambers, requiring the lower chambers to beat independently at a slower rate. I44.2 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the circulatory system (i00-i99), within the section covering other forms of heart disease (i30-i5a).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, I44.2 maps to Specified Heart Arrhythmias (HCC 238) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.000. Under the older V24 model, I44.2 mapped to the same category but with a base RAF weight of 0.282, V28 recalibrated weights across the entire model. V28 is the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model that reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition.
Complete AV block is a serious condition; ensure documentation includes whether it is congenital or acquired, and the underlying cause if known. Because I44.2 maps to a payment HCC, the provider's documentation must satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's Medicare Advantage risk adjustment score. When documentation is ambiguous, coders should issue a provider query rather than assume the highest-specificity variant.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for I44.2 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Complete AV block is a serious condition; ensure documentation includes whether it is congenital or acquired, and the underlying cause if known
- •This diagnosis often requires pacemaker implantation; document any associated symptoms or hemodynamic compromise
Clinical Significance
Complete atrioventricular block (third-degree heart block) is a severe conduction disorder where no electrical impulses pass from the atria to the ventricles. The ventricles beat independently at a slow escape rate, often requiring permanent pacemaker implantation. This is a life-threatening arrhythmia that significantly impacts patient care and resource utilization.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Provider diagnosis of complete (third-degree) atrioventricular block
- ✓Electrocardiogram evidence showing complete dissociation of atrial and ventricular rhythms
- ✓Whether the block is congenital or acquired
- ✓Underlying cause documented if known (myocardial infarction, drug toxicity, fibrosis)
- ✓Pacemaker implantation status and device type
Commonly Confused Codes
- •I44.1: Atrioventricular block, second degree; partial block, not complete dissociation
- •I44.0: Atrioventricular block, first degree; delayed conduction, not blocked
- •I44.30: Unspecified atrioventricular block; less specific than complete block
- •I49.5: Sick sinus syndrome; different conduction system disease