Skip to content

M87.022

Billable

Idiopathic aseptic necrosis of left humerus

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

Is M87.022 an HCC code?

Yes. M87.022 maps to Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis under V24).

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 92Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis
0.209
V24HCC 39Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis
0.482
ESRDHCC 39Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis
0.000
RxHCCHCC 80Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis
0.000

RAF weights shown are the community, non-dual, aged base weights from the CMS risk adjustment model file. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member segment, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains in use during the transition and for historical data.

MEAT Criteria for M87.022

For M87.022 to count as a valid HCC diagnosis in a given encounter, the provider's documentation must show MEAT: Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat. A diagnosis from a prior year does not carry forward automatically — it has to be re-documented and supported each calendar year.

  • MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
  • EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
  • AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
  • TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis

Only one of M/E/A/T is required to support the code, but the documentation must be specific enough to show that the provider actually addressed M87.022 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

What This Code Means

M87.022 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for idiopathic aseptic necrosis of left humerus. Death of bone tissue without infection in the left upper arm bone (humerus), occurring without a known cause. M87.022 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (m00-m99), within the section covering other osteopathies (m86-m90).

Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, M87.022 maps to Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis (HCC 92) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.209. Under the older V24 model, M87.022 mapped to the same category but with a base RAF weight of 0.482 — V28 recalibrated weights across the entire model. V28 is the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model that reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition.

Confirm the affected bone is the humerus and not the shoulder joint itself. Because M87.022 maps to a payment HCC, the provider's documentation must satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's Medicare Advantage risk adjustment score. When documentation is ambiguous, coders should issue a provider query rather than assume the highest-specificity variant.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for M87.022 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

  • Confirm the affected bone is the humerus and not the shoulder joint itself
  • Document must clearly indicate left side to use this specific code

Clinical Significance

Idiopathic aseptic necrosis of the left humerus involves bone tissue death in the upper arm without known cause, typically resulting in significant pain and functional limitations. This serious orthopedic condition often progresses to require surgical intervention and comprehensive rehabilitation to maintain arm function and prevent disability.

Documentation Requirements

  • Clear documentation of aseptic necrosis affecting left humerus
  • Confirmation of idiopathic nature without identifiable underlying cause
  • Radiological evidence demonstrating bone necrosis in left humeral bone
  • Specific laterality documentation indicating left side involvement
  • Clinical exclusion of infectious etiology
  • Functional assessment of left arm mobility and strength
  • Treatment approach documentation including therapeutic interventions
  • Pain assessment and impact on activities of daily living

Commonly Confused Codes

  • M87.021 — Right humerus when laterality is incorrectly assigned
  • M87.029 — Unspecified humerus when left side is documented
  • M87.122 — Drug-induced left humerus osteonecrosis
  • M87.222 — Trauma-related left humerus osteonecrosis
  • S42.202A — Fracture of left humerus (injury code)

Code Hierarchy

Open M87.022 in the Interactive Encoder

See full code details, AI coding tips, HCC mappings, and related codes in our interactive encoder. Start your 14-day Pro trial — no credit card required.