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I70

Non-Billable (Header)

Atherosclerosis

Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)

What This Code Means

I70 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for atherosclerosis. I70 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the circulatory system (i00-i99), within the section covering diseases of arteries, arterioles and capillaries (i70-i79).

Header codes like I70 cannot be reported on claims directly — they organize child codes that share clinical context but the actual diagnosis must be coded to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation. Coders should look at I70's child codes and select the one that matches the patient's documented presentation, since payers reject header codes submitted as the primary diagnosis. For risk adjustment workflows, header codes never contribute to a Medicare Advantage member's RAF score on their own; only billable child codes that happen to map to a payment HCC affect risk-adjusted plan payments.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for I70 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Includes

  • arteriolosclerosis
  • arterial degeneration
  • arteriosclerosis
  • arteriosclerotic vascular disease
  • arteriovascular degeneration
  • atheroma
  • endarteritis deformans or obliterans
  • senile arteritis
  • senile endarteritis
  • vascular degeneration

Excludes 2 — Not included here, may code separately

  • arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (I25.1-)
  • arteriosclerotic heart disease (I25.1-)
  • atheroembolism (I75.-)
  • cerebral atherosclerosis (I67.2)
  • coronary atherosclerosis (I25.1-)
  • mesenteric atherosclerosis (K55.1)
  • precerebral atherosclerosis (I67.2)
  • primary pulmonary atherosclerosis (I27.0)

Use Additional Code

  • code to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
  • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
  • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
  • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

I70Atherosclerosis
I70Atherosclerosis

More on I70

Related condition guides

Referenced in blog posts

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