What is ICD-10 code I72.5?

I72.5 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Aneurysm of other precerebral arteries. A weakened, bulging section of an artery in the neck or head region that supplies blood to the brain, excluding the vertebral artery. I72.5 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. I72.5 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.

Yes. I72.5 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. I72.5 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.

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for I72.5?

CMS phased in the V28 risk adjustment model over payment years 2024 (33%), 2025 (67%), and 2026 (100%), replacing V24. V28 consolidates HCC categories, removes some lower-acuity conditions, and recalibrates RAF weights across the entire model. I72.5 was a payment HCC under V24 (Vascular Disease) but the V28 recalibration removed it from the risk adjustment model. Both models can still appear in legacy data and in payer-specific lookback periods.

What should coders know when reporting I72.5?

This code excludes vertebral artery aneurysms, which have their own code (I72.6) Document specific artery location (carotid, basilar, etc.) when available Because I72.5 maps to a payment HCC, the documentation must also satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's risk adjustment score.

2026 ICD-10-CM I72.5: Aneurysm of other

ICD-10-CM Code View

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Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.

Code lookupI72.5Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) / Diseases of arteries, arterioles and capillaries (I70-I79)

I72.5

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Aneurysm of other precerebral arteries

A weakened, bulging section of an artery in the neck or head region that supplies blood to the brain, excluding the vertebral artery.

Buddy Insight

CMS-HCC V28

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

CMS-HCC V24

Mapped

HCC 108

Vascular Disease

RAF 0.288

ACA/HHS

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

ESRD/PACE

Mapped

HCC 108

Vascular Disease

RAF 0.073

RXHCC

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

Code Book Path

Official

I72Other aneurysm

I72.5Aneurysm of other precerebral arteries

Inclusion Terms

Official

Aneurysm of basilar artery (trunk)

Excludes 2

Official

aneurysm of carotid artery (I72.0)
aneurysm of vertebral artery (I72.6)
dissection of carotid artery (I77.71)
dissection of other precerebral arteries (I77.75)
dissection of vertebral artery (I77.74)

Related Child Codes

Official

I72.0Aneurysm of carotid artery

I72.1Aneurysm of artery of upper extremity

I72.2Aneurysm of renal artery

I72.3Aneurysm of iliac artery

I72.4Aneurysm of artery of lower extremity

Includes

Official

aneurysm (cirsoid) (false) (ruptured)

Excludes 1

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for I72.5 in this effective period.

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for I72.5 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for I72.5 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for I72.5 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Specific identification of the precerebral artery involved

Imaging confirmation with size and morphology

Assessment of cerebrovascular symptomatology

Laterality when applicable

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Specific identification of the precerebral artery involved

Imaging confirmation with size and morphology

Assessment of cerebrovascular symptomatology

Laterality when applicable

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Coding a carotid or vertebral aneurysm under this code when specific codes exist for those vessels

Confusing precerebral (extracranial) with intracranial cerebral aneurysms

Not reviewing imaging reports that may identify the specific precerebral artery when the clinical note is vague

Missing this diagnosis in a trauma setting where pseudoaneurysm of the subclavian or innominate artery develops

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

I72.0 — Aneurysm of carotid artery: carotid has its own specific code

I72.6 — Aneurysm of vertebral artery: vertebral has its own specific code

I67.1 — Cerebral aneurysm, nonruptured: intracranial aneurysm, not precerebral

I72.8 — Aneurysm of other specified arteries: use I72.5 when the artery is precerebral

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 I72.5 an HCC code?

Yes. I72.5 maps to Vascular Disease under the V24 model but is not retained in V28.

Code: I72.5
Description: Aneurysm of other precerebral arteries
HCC (V28): No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
RAF: —
Billable: Yes
Payment year: 2026

HCC Category Mapping

V24HCC 108, Vascular Disease

0.288

ESRDHCC 108, Vascular Disease

0.073

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 I72.5 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT Criteria for I72.5

For I72.5 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 I72.5 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

I72.5 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for aneurysm of other precerebral arteries. A weakened, bulging section of an artery in the neck or head region that supplies blood to the brain, excluding the vertebral artery. I72.5 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 older CMS-HCC V24 model, I72.5 maps to Vascular Disease (HCC 108) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.288. 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.

This code excludes vertebral artery aneurysms, which have their own code (I72.6). Because I72.5 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 I72.5 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•This code excludes vertebral artery aneurysms, which have their own code (I72.6)
•Document specific artery location (carotid, basilar, etc.) when available

Clinical Significance

Aneurysm of other precerebral arteries encompasses aneurysms of vessels supplying the brain other than the carotid and vertebral arteries, such as the innominate (brachiocephalic), subclavian, or other named precerebral vessels. These are rare but carry stroke risk through embolization. Accurate coding captures this unusual vascular pathology for appropriate risk stratification.

Documentation Requirements

✓Specific identification of the precerebral artery involved
✓Imaging confirmation with size and morphology
✓Assessment of cerebrovascular symptomatology
✓Laterality when applicable
✓Etiology (atherosclerotic, traumatic, connective tissue disorder)
✓Treatment plan and neurovascular consultation documentation

Excludes 2, Not included here, may code separately

aneurysm of carotid artery (I72.0)
aneurysm of vertebral artery (I72.6)
dissection of carotid artery (I77.71)
dissection of other precerebral arteries (I77.75)
dissection of vertebral artery (I77.74)

Commonly Confused Codes

•I72.0: Aneurysm of carotid artery: carotid has its own specific code
•I72.6: Aneurysm of vertebral artery: vertebral has its own specific code
•I67.1: Cerebral aneurysm, nonruptured: intracranial aneurysm, not precerebral
•I72.8: Aneurysm of other specified arteries: use I72.5 when the artery is precerebral