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M40

Non-Billable (Header)

Kyphosis and lordosis

Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)

What This Code Means

M40 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for kyphosis and lordosis. M40 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (m00-m99), within the section covering deforming dorsopathies (m40-m43).

Header codes like M40 cannot be reported on claims directly — they organize child codes that share clinical context but the actual diagnosis must be coded to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation. Coders should look at M40's child codes and select the one that matches the patient's documented presentation, since payers reject header codes submitted as the primary diagnosis. For risk adjustment workflows, header codes never contribute to a Medicare Advantage member's RAF score on their own; only billable child codes that happen to map to a payment HCC affect risk-adjusted plan payments.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for M40 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Excludes 1 — Do NOT code together

  • congenital kyphosis and lordosis (Q76.4)
  • kyphoscoliosis (M41.-)
  • postprocedural kyphosis and lordosis (M96.-)

Code First

  • underlying disease

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

M40Kyphosis and lordosis
M40Kyphosis and lordosis

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