C20 — Malignant neoplasm of rectum
Is C20 billable?
Yes — C20 is billable for FY2027. C20 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code at the highest level of specificity in its branch. C20 may be submitted for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
C20 at a glance
| Code | C20 |
|---|---|
| Description | Malignant neoplasm of rectum |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does C20 group to?
C20 sits in MDC 06 and helps define the logic of 3 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 374Digestive Malignancy with MCCmedical
- 375Digestive Malignancy with CCmedical
- 376Digestive Malignancy without CC/MCCmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, C20 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
Excludes1 — never code together
The conditions below can never be reported together with C20 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- malignant carcinoid tumor of the rectum (C7A.026)
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to C20.
- Malignant neoplasm of rectal ampulla
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from C15-C26
The conditions below can never be reported together with C20 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- Kaposi's sarcoma of gastrointestinal sites (C46.4)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from C15-C26
The conditions below are not part of C20, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, C20 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- gastrointestinal stromal tumors (C49.A-)
How long has C20 existed?
C20 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.