What is ICD-10 code M02.89?

M02.89 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Other reactive arthropathies, multiple sites. Joint inflammation affecting multiple different sites in the body that develops as a reaction to an infection or other trigger. M02.89 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. M02.89 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. M02.89 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. M02.89 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 M02.89?

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. For M02.89, V28 maps to Bone/Joint/Muscle/Severe Soft Tissue Infections/Necrosis at RAF 0.479 while V24 mapped to Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis at RAF 0.401. Both models can still appear in legacy data and in payer-specific lookback periods.

What should coders know when reporting M02.89?

Use this code when reactive arthropathy involves three or more different joint sites; list specific affected sites in documentation Consider coding individual site-specific codes if only one or two sites are involved, as those are more precise Because M02.89 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 M02.89: Other reactive

ICD-10-CM Code View

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Code lookupM02.89Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99) / Infectious arthropathies (M00-M02)

M02.89

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

Other reactive arthropathies, multiple sites

Joint inflammation affecting multiple different sites in the body that develops as a reaction to an infection or other trigger.

Buddy Insight

This diagnosis represents reactive arthropathy affecting multiple joint sites simultaneously, indicating widespread inflammation secondary to a remote infectious trigger.

CMS-HCC V28

Mapped

HCC 92

Bone/Joint/Muscle/Severe Soft...

RAF 0.479

CMS-HCC V24

Mapped

HCC 39

Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/...

RAF 0.401

ACA/HHS

Mapped

HCC 55

HHS-HCC 55

Varies by metal level

ESRD/PACE

Mapped

HCC 39

Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/...

RAF 0.092

RXHCC

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

Code Book Path

Official

M02Postinfective and reactive arthropathies

M02.8Other reactive arthropathies

M02.89Other reactive arthropathies, multiple sites

Inclusion Terms

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for M02.89 in this effective period.

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for M02.89 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official

M02.80Other reactive arthropathies, unspecified site

M02.81Other reactive arthropathies, shoulder

M02.82Other reactive arthropathies, elbow

M02.83Other reactive arthropathies, wrist

M02.84Other reactive arthropathies, hand

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for M02.89 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for M02.89 in this effective period.

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for M02.89 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for M02.89 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for M02.89 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Clinical evidence of inflammation in multiple joint sites

Documentation of reactive nature - inflammation secondary to remote infection

Identification of at least two different anatomical joint sites affected

Evidence ruling out direct septic arthritis at multiple sites

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Clinical evidence of inflammation in multiple joint sites

Documentation of reactive nature - inflammation secondary to remote infection

Identification of at least two different anatomical joint sites affected

Evidence ruling out direct septic arthritis at multiple sites

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Using this code when only one joint site is documented as affected

Confusing with rheumatoid arthritis or other systemic autoimmune conditions

Missing the reactive nature and coding as unspecified polyarthritis

Failing to document multiple specific joint sites affected

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

M06.9 — Rheumatoid arthritis, unspecified (autoimmune vs reactive polyarthritis)

M79.3 — Panniculitis, unspecified (soft tissue vs joint inflammation)

M35.9 — Systemic involvement of connective tissue, unspecified (autoimmune vs reactive)

Individual site-specific reactive arthropathy codes (when only one site documented)

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 M02.89 an HCC code?

Yes. M02.89 (Other reactive arthropathies, multiple sites) maps to Bone/Joint/Muscle/Severe Soft Tissue Infections/Necrosis under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis under V24), with a community non-dual aged RAF of 0.479. It is billable for payment year 2026.

Coder answer: M02.89 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 92, Bone/Joint/Muscle/Severe Soft Tissue Infections/Necrosis. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.

Code: M02.89
Description: Other reactive arthropathies, multiple sites
HCC (V28): HCC 92 — Bone/Joint/Muscle/Severe Soft Tissue Infections/Necrosis
RAF: 0.479
Billable: Yes
Payment year: 2026

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 92, Bone/Joint/Muscle/Severe Soft Tissue Infections/Necrosis

0.479

V24HCC 39, Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis

0.401

ESRDHCC 39, Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis

0.092

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 M02.89 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT Criteria for M02.89

For M02.89 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 M02.89 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

M02.89 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other reactive arthropathies, multiple sites. Joint inflammation affecting multiple different sites in the body that develops as a reaction to an infection or other trigger. M02.89 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, M02.89 maps to Bone/Joint/Muscle/Severe Soft Tissue Infections/Necrosis (HCC 92) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.479. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, M02.89 maps to Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis (HCC 39) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.401. 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.

Use this code when reactive arthropathy involves three or more different joint sites; list specific affected sites in documentation. Because M02.89 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 M02.89 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•Use this code when reactive arthropathy involves three or more different joint sites; list specific affected sites in documentation
•Consider coding individual site-specific codes if only one or two sites are involved, as those are more precise

Clinical Significance

This diagnosis represents reactive arthropathy affecting multiple joint sites simultaneously, indicating widespread inflammation secondary to a remote infectious trigger. Multiple joint involvement suggests a more systemic process with greater functional impact and complexity, requiring comprehensive management and monitoring.

Documentation Requirements

✓Clinical evidence of inflammation in multiple joint sites
✓Documentation of reactive nature - inflammation secondary to remote infection
✓Identification of at least two different anatomical joint sites affected
✓Evidence ruling out direct septic arthritis at multiple sites
✓Documentation of triggering infection or infectious process (if identified)
✓Physical examination findings consistent with polyarthritis
✓Exclusion of other systemic arthropathies (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus)
✓Assessment of overall functional impact and disability

Commonly Confused Codes

•M06.9: Rheumatoid arthritis, unspecified (autoimmune vs reactive polyarthritis)
•M79.3: Panniculitis, unspecified (soft tissue vs joint inflammation)
•M35.9: Systemic involvement of connective tissue, unspecified (autoimmune vs reactive)
•Individual site-specific reactive arthropathy codes (when only one site documented)
•M25.50: Pain in unspecified joint (symptom vs specific arthropathy diagnosis)