M06.221 ICD-10-CM Code: Rheumatoid bursitis, right elbow
HCC Buddy Code Card
Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.
FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99) / Inflammatory polyarthropathies (M05-M14)
M06.221
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceRheumatoid bursitis, right elbow
Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs around the right elbow joint due to rheumatoid arthritis, causing pain and restricted movement.
Buddy Insight
Rheumatoid bursitis of the right elbow represents RA-related inflammation of elbow bursa, commonly the olecranon bursa.
CMS-HCC V28
MappedHCC 93
RAF 0.175
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 40
RAF 0.307
ACA/HHS
00
RAF 0
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 40
RAF 0.0
RXHCC
MappedHCC 83
RAF 0.0
Code Trumping
Basket needed
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for M06.221 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for M06.221 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for M06.221 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for M06.221 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for M06.221 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for M06.221 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for M06.221 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.
Is M06.221 an HCC code?
Yes. M06.221 maps to Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease 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 M06.221
For M06.221to 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 M06.221 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
M06.221 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for rheumatoid bursitis, right elbow. Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs around the right elbow joint due to rheumatoid arthritis, causing pain and restricted movement. M06.221 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (m00-m99), within the section covering inflammatory polyarthropathies (m05-m14).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, M06.221 maps to Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease (HCC 93) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.175. Under the older V24 model, M06.221 mapped to the same category but with a base RAF weight of 0.307, 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.
Confirm right elbow is specifically documented; do not assume laterality. Because M06.221 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 M06.221 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Confirm right elbow is specifically documented; do not assume laterality
- •This code indicates rheumatoid bursitis as a manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis
Clinical Significance
Rheumatoid bursitis of the right elbow represents RA-related inflammation of elbow bursa, commonly the olecranon bursa. This diagnosis indicates progressive disease with extra-articular manifestations requiring specialized rheumatologic care and potential for functional limitation.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Established diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
- ✓Documentation of right elbow bursitis secondary to RA
- ✓Physical examination findings of elbow bursal swelling or inflammation
- ✓Assessment of elbow range of motion and function
- ✓Evidence linking bursitis to underlying inflammatory disease
- ✓Treatment history including local injections or systemic therapy
- ✓Imaging studies if performed (ultrasound, MRI)
- ✓Exclusion of septic bursitis or other causes