Z44.102
BillableEncounter for fitting and adjustment of unspecified left artificial leg
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is Z44.102 an HCC code?
Yes. Z44.102 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).
HCC Category Mapping
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 Z44.102
For Z44.102to 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 Z44.102 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
Z44.102 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for encounter for fitting and adjustment of unspecified left artificial leg. A patient visit to have an artificial leg (prosthetic) of unspecified type fitted or adjusted on the left side of the body. Z44.102 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for factors influencing health status and contact with health services (z00-z99), within the section covering encounters for other specific health care (z40-z53).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, Z44.102 maps to Amputation Status, Lower Limb/Amputation Complications (HCC 409) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.350. The V24 model used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition mapped Z44.102 the same way and at the same RAF weight. 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.
Use this code when the prosthetic type (partial vs. complete) is not documented in the medical record. Because Z44.102 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 Z44.102 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code when the prosthetic type (partial vs. complete) is not documented in the medical record
- •Request clarification from the provider about the prosthetic type to ensure accurate coding
Clinical Significance
This code indicates a patient has undergone lower limb amputation requiring prosthetic management on the left side, representing significant functional impairment and ongoing care needs. The encounter for prosthetic fitting demonstrates the patient's amputation status and need for specialized rehabilitative services.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of encounter purpose for prosthetic fitting or adjustment
- ✓Specification that this is for left leg prosthesis
- ✓Clear indication this is an artificial leg (not arm or other prosthetic)
- ✓Type of prosthetic service provided (fitting, adjustment, repair)
- ✓Patient's underlying amputation status or history
- ✓Functional assessment or prosthetic needs evaluation
- ✓Provider specialty or clinic type performing the service
- ✓Any complications or issues with current prosthesis
Commonly Confused Codes
- •Z44.112 — Use when documentation specifies complete artificial leg rather than unspecified type
- •Z44.122 — Use when documentation specifies partial artificial leg rather than unspecified type
- •Z44.102 vs Z44.112/Z44.122 — Must specify complete vs partial vs unspecified prosthetic type
- •Z44.101 — Use for right leg instead of left leg prosthetic encounters
- •Z44.00- series — These are for artificial arm prosthetics, not leg prosthetics