M87.172 ICD-10-CM Code: Osteonecrosis due to drugs, left ankle
M87.172 is not a CMS-HCC payment code. MEAT criteria · RAF calculator · HCC coding software
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FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99) / Other osteopathies (M86-M90)
M87.172
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceOsteonecrosis due to drugs, left ankle
Death of bone tissue in the left ankle caused by medication side effects, potentially compromising ankle stability and function.

Buddy Insight
Drug-induced osteonecrosis of the left ankle represents medication-related bone death affecting the weight-bearing joint, with potential severe impact on mobility and independence.
CMS-HCC V28
N/A—
Not mapped
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 39
RAF 0.401
ACA/HHS
MappedHCC 55
Varies by metal level
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 39
RAF 0.092
RXHCC
MappedHCC 80
RAF 0.204
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for M87.172 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for M87.172 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for M87.172 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for M87.172 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for M87.172 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for M87.172 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for M87.172 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
Current with CMS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr 1 update (effective Apr 1 – Sep 30, 2026) · CMS-HCC V28, 100% phased in for payment year 2026. FY2027 code set already staged for October 1, 2026. How HCC Buddy stays current →
Is M87.172 an HCC code?
Yes. M87.172 maps to Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis under the V24 model but is not retained in V28.
- Code
- M87.172
- Description
- Osteonecrosis due to drugs, left ankle
- HCC (V28)
- No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
- RAF
- —
- Billable
- Yes
- Payment year
- 2026
HCC Category Mapping
Each model's RAF is its CMS base weight for that model's standard population, so weights are not directly comparable across models: CMS-HCC V28 and V24 use Community, Non-Dual, Aged; ESRD uses the dialysis continuing-enrollee model; RxHCC is the Part D continuing-enrollee, non-low-income, aged weight (a larger scale than CMS-HCC). ACA/HHS has no single weight — it varies by metal level. 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.
Work M87.172 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT Criteria for M87.172
For M87.172 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 M87.172 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
M87.172 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for osteonecrosis due to drugs, left ankle. Death of bone tissue in the left ankle caused by medication side effects, potentially compromising ankle stability and function. M87.172 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 older CMS-HCC V24 model, M87.172 maps to Bone/Joint/Muscle Infections/Necrosis (HCC 39) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.401. 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.
Document the specific ankle bone affected (talus, calcaneus, etc.) if available for clinical clarity. Because M87.172 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 M87.172 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Document the specific ankle bone affected (talus, calcaneus, etc.) if available for clinical clarity
- •Ensure the drug-induced relationship is clearly established in the medical record
Clinical Significance
Drug-induced osteonecrosis of the left ankle represents medication-related bone death affecting the weight-bearing joint, with potential severe impact on mobility and independence. This condition requires comprehensive evaluation and may necessitate complex surgical intervention to preserve joint function and prevent disability.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Clear documentation of left ankle involvement in osteonecrosis
- ✓Specific causative medication with exposure timeline
- ✓Imaging evidence of left ankle osteonecrosis
- ✓Assessment of joint stability and weight-bearing capacity
- ✓Documentation of functional limitations and mobility impact
- ✓Drug exposure duration and relationship to symptom onset
- ✓Comprehensive treatment plan including surgical considerations
- ✓Provider documentation establishing drug-induced etiology
Commonly Confused Codes
- •M87.171: Right ankle osteonecrosis, opposite side
- •M87.173: Unspecified ankle when left side is documented
- •M87.175: Left foot osteonecrosis involves broader foot structures
- •M87.272: Post-traumatic left ankle requires trauma history
- •M19.072: Primary ankle osteoarthritis is joint degeneration, not necrosis

