M01.X41
BillableDirect infection of right hand in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is M01.X41 an HCC code?
Yes. M01.X41 maps to Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis 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 M01.X41
For M01.X41to 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 M01.X41 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
M01.X41 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for direct infection of right hand in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere. An infection in the right hand joint caused by a disease classified elsewhere, such as tuberculosis or a parasitic infection. M01.X41 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (m00-m99), within the section covering infectious arthropathies (m00-m02).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, M01.X41 maps to Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis (HCC 92) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.209. Under the older V24 model, M01.X41 mapped to the same category but with a base RAF weight of 0.482 — 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.
This code applies to infections of the hand joints secondary to another documented infectious disease. Because M01.X41 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 M01.X41 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •This code applies to infections of the hand joints secondary to another documented infectious disease
- •Requires a secondary diagnosis code to specify the underlying infectious or parasitic condition
Clinical Significance
Direct infection of the right hand joints secondary to classified infectious or parasitic diseases represents a complex condition affecting fine motor skills and hand function. This diagnosis indicates serious joint involvement that requires aggressive treatment to prevent permanent disability and preserve essential hand functions.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Clear documentation of right hand joint infection
- ✓Primary diagnosis code for underlying infectious or parasitic disease
- ✓Evidence of direct causal relationship between systemic disease and hand infection
- ✓Physical examination findings of hand joint inflammation and functional impairment
- ✓Laboratory studies confirming infectious process and systemic involvement
- ✓Imaging studies showing hand joint involvement (X-ray, MRI, ultrasound)
- ✓Synovial fluid analysis from affected joints when aspiration performed
- ✓Treatment plan addressing both underlying condition and hand-specific therapy
Commonly Confused Codes
- •M00.941 — Pyogenic arthritis, right hand (bacterial infection not from classified disease)
- •M25.541 — Pain in right hand (joint pain without infectious etiology)
- •M01.X42 — Direct infection of left hand in infectious diseases classified elsewhere
- •A18.02 — Tuberculous arthritis (when tuberculosis is the specific underlying cause)