T87.44 ICD-10-CM Code: Infection of amputation stump, left lower extremity
HCC Buddy Code Card
Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.
FY 2026 Apr update / Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88) / Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified (T80-T88)
T87.44
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceInfection of amputation stump, left lower extremity
A bacterial or fungal infection occurring at the site of a left leg amputation.
Buddy Insight
Left lower extremity amputation stump infection represents a high-risk complication requiring intensive medical management to prevent limb loss progression or systemic complications.
CMS-HCC V28
MappedHCC 409
RAF 0.598
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 189
RAF 0.519
ACA/HHS
MappedHCC 234
Varies by metal level
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 189
RAF 0.081
RXHCC
N/A—
Not mapped
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for T87.44 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for T87.44 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for T87.44 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for T87.44 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for T87.44 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for T87.44 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for T87.44 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 T87.44 an HCC code?
Yes. T87.44 (Infection of amputation stump, left lower extremity) maps to Amputation Status, Lower Limb/Amputation Complications under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Amputation Status, Lower Limb/Amputation Complications under V24), with a community non-dual aged RAF of 0.598. It is billable for payment year 2026.
Coder answer: T87.44 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 409, Amputation Status, Lower Limb/Amputation Complications. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.
- Code
- T87.44
- Description
- Infection of amputation stump, left lower extremity
- HCC (V28)
- HCC 409 — Amputation Status, Lower Limb/Amputation Complications
- RAF
- 0.598
- 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 T87.44 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT Criteria for T87.44
For T87.44 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 T87.44 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
T87.44 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for infection of amputation stump, left lower extremity. A bacterial or fungal infection occurring at the site of a left leg amputation. T87.44 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (s00-t88), within the section covering complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified (t80-t88).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, T87.44 maps to Amputation Status, Lower Limb/Amputation Complications (HCC 409) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.598. Under the older V24 model, T87.44 mapped to the same category but with a base RAF weight of 0.519, 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.
Ensure documentation clearly specifies left lower extremity to avoid coding errors. Because T87.44 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 T87.44 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Ensure documentation clearly specifies left lower extremity to avoid coding errors
- •Monitor for systemic infection signs and document any fever or elevated inflammatory markers
Clinical Significance
Left lower extremity amputation stump infection represents a high-risk complication requiring intensive medical management to prevent limb loss progression or systemic complications. These infections often require multidisciplinary care including infectious disease, wound care specialists, and rehabilitation teams.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Specific documentation of left lower extremity amputation stump
- ✓Clinical evidence of infection including local and systemic signs
- ✓Detailed wound assessment and staging
- ✓Microbiological studies including aerobic and anaerobic cultures
- ✓Imaging studies if deep infection suspected
- ✓Antibiotic therapy plan and monitoring
- ✓Assessment of bone involvement or osteomyelitis risk
- ✓Impact on weight-bearing and mobility status
Commonly Confused Codes
- •T87.43: Right lower extremity infection vs left lower extremity
- •T87.40: Unspecified extremity when laterality is clearly documented
- •T87.41-T87.42: Upper extremity infections vs lower extremity location
- •L03.117: Cellulitis of left lower limb (not amputation-specific)
- •T87.34: Neuroma of left lower extremity vs infectious process