Question 1

What is ICD-10 code M50.123?

Accepted Answer

M50.123 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for cervical disc disorder at c6-c7 level with radiculopathy. A herniated or damaged disc in the neck at the C6-C7 level (lower neck) that is pressing on a nerve root, causing pain, numbness, or weakness that radiates down the arm. M50.123 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (m00-m99), within the section covering other dorsopathies (m50-m54).

M50.123 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.

Verify the specific cervical level (C6-C7) is documented in the clinical notes before assigning this code.

Question 2

Is M50.123 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. M50.123 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 M50.123 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. M50.123 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. M50.123 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 M50.123?

Accepted Answer

M50.123 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 M50.123 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 M50.123?

Accepted Answer

Verify the specific cervical level (C6-C7) is documented in the clinical notes before assigning this code Confirm that radiculopathy (nerve root involvement) is present; if only myelopathy exists, use a different M50 code

M50.123

Is M50.123 an HCC code?

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Open M50.123 in the Interactive Encoder