M08.449
BillablePauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, unspecified hand
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 93 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease
0.175V24HCC 40 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease
0.307ESRDHCC 40 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease
0.000RxHCCHCC 83 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease
0.000What This Code Means
A type of childhood arthritis affecting only a few joints in the hand, but the specific side (left or right) is not documented or specified.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code only when laterality cannot be determined from documentation
- •Query the provider if possible to obtain specific laterality for more precise coding
Clinical Significance
This unspecified hand code indicates pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis affecting hand joints when laterality is not documented. Hand involvement in children requires immediate attention to prevent growth disturbances and joint deformities that can significantly impact lifelong function.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of hand joint involvement without laterality specified
- ✓Age at onset younger than 16 years
- ✓Four or fewer joints affected total
- ✓Minimum 6-week duration of symptoms
- ✓Evidence of synovial inflammation
- ✓Exclusion of other juvenile arthritis subtypes
- ✓Treatment history and response
- ✓Functional impact assessment
Commonly Confused Codes
Code Hierarchy
└M08Juvenile arthritis└M08.4Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis└M08.44Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, hand└M08.449Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, unspecified hand
└M08.449Pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, unspecified hand