I70.731 ICD-10-CM Code: Atherosclerosis of other type of bypass graft(s) of the right leg with ulceration of thigh
I70.731 maps to CMS-HCC V28 263 (RAF 1.118). Documentation must support MEAT. MEAT criteria · RAF calculator · free HCC coding tools
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FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) / Diseases of arteries, arterioles and capillaries (I70-I79)
I70.731
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceAtherosclerosis of other type of bypass graft(s) of the right leg with ulceration of thigh
Hardening and narrowing of a bypass graft in the right leg with an open sore on the thigh.

Buddy Insight
Atherosclerosis of other type bypass graft of the right leg with ulceration of the thigh represents advanced peripheral arterial disease with tissue breakdown (Fontaine Stage IV).
CMS-HCC V28
MappedHCC 263
RAF 1.118
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 106
RAF 1.488
ACA/HHS
N/A—
Not mapped
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 106
RAF 0.358
RXHCC
MappedHCC 311
RAF 0.175
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for I70.731 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for I70.731 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
Official- any condition classifiable to I70.711 and I70.721
- chronic limb-threatening ischemia of other type of bypass graft(s) of the right leg with ulceration
- critical limb ischemia of other type of bypass graft(s) of the right leg with ulceration
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for I70.731 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for I70.731 in this effective period.
Use Additional
Official- code to identify severity of ulcer (L97.-)
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for I70.731 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
Current with CMS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr 1 update (effective Apr 1 – Sep 30, 2026) · CMS-HCC V28, 100% phased in for payment year 2026. FY2027 code set already staged for October 1, 2026. How HCC Buddy stays current →
Is I70.731 an HCC code?
Yes. I70.731 (Atherosclerosis of other type of bypass graft(s) of the right leg with ulceration of thigh) maps to Atherosclerosis of Arteries of the Extremities with Ulceration or Gangrene under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Atherosclerosis of the Extremities with Ulceration or Gangrene under V24), with a community non-dual aged RAF of 1.118. It is billable for payment year 2026.
Coder answer: I70.731 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 263, Atherosclerosis of Arteries of the Extremities with Ulceration or Gangrene. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.
- Code
- I70.731
- Description
- Atherosclerosis of other type of bypass graft(s) of the right leg with ulceration of thigh
- HCC (V28)
- HCC 263 — Atherosclerosis of Arteries of the Extremities with Ulceration or Gangrene
- RAF
- 1.118
- Billable
- Yes
- Payment year
- 2026
HCC Category Mapping
Each model's RAF is its CMS base weight for that model's standard population, so weights are not directly comparable across models: CMS-HCC V28 and V24 use Community, Non-Dual, Aged; ESRD uses the dialysis continuing-enrollee model; RxHCC is the Part D continuing-enrollee, non-low-income, aged weight (a larger scale than CMS-HCC). ACA/HHS has no single weight — it varies by metal level. 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 I70.731 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT Criteria for I70.731
For I70.731 to 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 I70.731 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
I70.731 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for atherosclerosis of other type of bypass graft(s) of the right leg with ulceration of thigh. Hardening and narrowing of a bypass graft in the right leg with an open sore on the thigh. I70.731 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).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, I70.731 maps to Atherosclerosis of Arteries of the Extremities with Ulceration or Gangrene (HCC 263) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 1.118. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, I70.731 maps to Atherosclerosis of the Extremities with Ulceration or Gangrene (HCC 106) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 1.488. 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.
Confirm the ulceration is specifically on the thigh and not another part of the right leg. Because I70.731 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 I70.731 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Confirm the ulceration is specifically on the thigh and not another part of the right leg
- •Document the stage and severity of the ulcer for complete clinical picture
Clinical Significance
Atherosclerosis of other type bypass graft of the right leg with ulceration of the thigh represents advanced peripheral arterial disease with tissue breakdown (Fontaine Stage IV). The presence of ulceration indicates critical limb ischemia with active tissue loss, significantly increasing the risk of infection, gangrene, and potential amputation. This condition demands intensive wound care, vascular surveillance, and often revascularization procedures, making accurate documentation critical for appropriate resource allocation.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documented atherosclerotic disease specifically of other type bypass graft(s) in the right leg
- ✓Active ulceration at the thigh clearly described — including size, depth, and wound characteristics
- ✓Laterality confirmed as right leg
- ✓Type of bypass graft specified (synthetic, composite, or other non-vein/non-biological type)
- ✓Severity/classification of ulcer (e.g., Wagner grade, University of Texas classification) when available
- ✓Additional code from L97.- or L98.49- to specify ulcer severity (non-pressure chronic ulcer codes)
- ✓Current wound care plan and any vascular intervention being considered
- ✓Assessment of perfusion status (ABI, toe pressures, or other vascular studies)
Commonly Confused Codes
- •I70.531/I70.532/I70.535: Atherosclerosis of nonautologous biological bypass graft of the right leg with ulceration (different graft type)
- •I70.431/I70.432/I70.435: Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass graft of the right leg with ulceration (different graft type: autologous vein)
- •I70.231/I70.232/I70.235: Atherosclerosis of native arteries of right leg with ulceration (native artery, not bypass graft)
- •I70.741-I70.749: Same condition but left leg instead of right leg
- •L97.111-L97.929: Non-pressure chronic ulcer codes that should be used as additional codes to specify ulcer severity

