M45.0
BillableAnkylosing spondylitis of multiple sites in spine
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
Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that causes the spine to become stiff and fused, affecting multiple levels of the spine.
Coding Tips
- •Confirm diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis through clinical documentation and imaging findings
- •Use this code when the condition involves multiple sites in the spine rather than a single region
Clinical Significance
Ankylosing spondylitis affecting multiple spinal sites represents severe axial spondyloarthropathy requiring aggressive treatment to prevent progressive fusion and disability. Multi-site involvement indicates advanced disease with higher risk of complications and functional impairment.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis with radiographic or MRI evidence
- ✓Involvement of multiple spinal regions (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral)
- ✓Assessment of spinal mobility and functional limitations
- ✓Inflammatory marker levels and disease activity measures
- ✓Treatment with disease-modifying therapies or biologics
- ✓Evaluation for extra-articular manifestations
- ✓Monitoring for spinal complications and progression
Commonly Confused Codes
M45.9 — Ankylosing spondylitis of unspecified sites (less specific)M46.1 — Sacroiliitis, not elsewhere classified (limited to SI joints)M47.9 — Spondylosis, unspecified (degenerative rather than inflammatory)M54.9 — Dorsalgia, unspecified (symptom rather than diagnosis)M08.1 — Juvenile ankylosing spondylitis (age-specific variant)