M46.89

Billable

Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, multiple sites in spine

HCC Category Mapping

V24HCC 40 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease

0.307

ESRDHCC 40 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease

0.000

What This Code Means

Inflammation of the spine affecting multiple areas along the spine that doesn't fit into other specific categories.

Coding Tips

•Use only when inflammatory spondylopathy involves multiple non-contiguous or widespread spinal regions
•Document which specific regions are affected to support medical necessity and justify the 'multiple sites' designation

Clinical Significance

Multiple-site inflammatory spondylopathies represent extensive spinal involvement requiring aggressive anti-inflammatory management and close monitoring for systemic complications. These conditions often indicate underlying autoimmune processes requiring multidisciplinary care.

Documentation Requirements

✓Multiple spinal levels involved documented
✓Non-infectious inflammatory etiology confirmed
✓Extent of spinal involvement on imaging
✓Systemic inflammatory markers
✓Assessment for underlying autoimmune conditions
✓Response to systemic anti-inflammatory therapy
✓Functional assessment at multiple levels
✓Overall disability and quality of life measures

Commonly Confused Codes

M46.59 — Multiple-site infective spondylopathies when infectious M46.80-M46.88 — Single-site codes when multiple levels involved M45.9 — Ankylosing spondylitis when specific diagnosis known M35.9 — Systemic connective tissue disorder when autoimmune primary

Code Hierarchy

└M46Other inflammatory spondylopathies └M46.8Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies └M46.89Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, multiple sites in spine

└M46.89Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, multiple sites in spine