Question 1

What is ICD-10 code M23.051?

Accepted Answer

M23.051 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for cystic meniscus, posterior horn of lateral meniscus, right knee. A fluid-filled cyst in the back part of the lateral meniscus (outer cartilage pad) in the right knee. M23.051 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (m00-m99), within the section covering other joint disorders (m20-m25).

M23.051 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to a payment HCC under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions but it does not contribute to a beneficiary's RAF score and therefore does not affect risk-adjusted payments to the plan.

Ensure documentation specifies 'right knee' to justify the '1' laterality indicator.

Question 2

Is M23.051 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. M23.051 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any payment HCC category under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can still be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions, but it does not contribute to the beneficiary's Risk Adjustment Factor (RAF) score and therefore does not affect the risk-adjusted capitation payment to the plan. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026.

Question 3

Is M23.051 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. M23.051 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. M23.051 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.

Question 4

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for M23.051?

Accepted Answer

M23.051 does not map to a payment HCC under either the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model or the older V24 model. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition. Because neither model rewards M23.051 with a risk adjustment factor, it contributes zero to a Medicare Advantage beneficiary's RAF score in either version. Coders should check whether provider documentation supports a more specific child code that does map to a payment HCC.

Question 5

What should coders know when reporting M23.051?

Accepted Answer

Ensure documentation specifies 'right knee' to justify the '1' laterality indicator Distinguish between posterior horn cysts and other meniscal pathology

M23.051

Is M23.051 an HCC code?

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Open M23.051 in the Interactive Encoder