M02.832
BillableOther reactive arthropathies, left wrist
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is M02.832 an HCC code?
Yes. M02.832 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 M02.832
For M02.832to 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 M02.832 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
M02.832 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other reactive arthropathies, left wrist. Joint inflammation in the left wrist that develops as a reaction to an infection or other trigger elsewhere in the body, rather than being a primary joint disease. M02.832 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, M02.832 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, M02.832 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.
Reactive arthropathies are secondary to another condition; document the triggering infection or condition if known. Because M02.832 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 M02.832 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Reactive arthropathies are secondary to another condition; document the triggering infection or condition if known
- •The 5th character '2' indicates left side; ensure laterality is clearly documented in the clinical record
Clinical Significance
This diagnosis represents reactive arthropathy of the left wrist, indicating inflammation triggered by an infection elsewhere in the body. Wrist involvement can significantly impact hand function, grip strength, and fine motor activities, requiring comprehensive management to prevent functional decline and maintain patient independence.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Clinical evidence of left wrist joint inflammation (swelling, pain, stiffness, warmth)
- ✓Documentation of reactive nature - inflammation secondary to remote infection
- ✓Specific anatomical location identified as left wrist joint
- ✓Evidence ruling out direct septic arthritis or other infectious arthropathies
- ✓Documentation of triggering infection or infectious process (if identified)
- ✓Physical examination findings consistent with wrist arthritis
- ✓Exclusion of other arthropathy types (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, crystal arthropathy)
- ✓Assessment of functional impact on hand/wrist mobility and daily activities
Commonly Confused Codes
- •M00.032 — Staphylococcal arthritis of left wrist (infectious vs reactive)
- •M06.032 — Rheumatoid arthritis of left wrist (autoimmune vs reactive)
- •M19.032 — Primary osteoarthritis of left wrist (degenerative vs reactive)
- •M02.831 — Other reactive arthropathies, right wrist (laterality difference)
- •M25.532 — Pain in left wrist (symptom vs specific arthropathy diagnosis)