ICDcodes.org
FY2027

C96.9 — Malignant neoplasm of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue, unspecified

BillableUnspecifiedCC

Is C96.9 billable?

Yes, but C96.9 is an unspecified code. C96.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, C96.9 is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting C96.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.

C96.9 at a glance

CodeC96.9
DescriptionMalignant neoplasm of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue, unspecified
BillableYes
Code setICD-10-CM FY2027
Valid for encountersOctober 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027

Which MS-DRGs does C96.9 group to?

C96.9 sits in MDC Pre 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.

  • 011Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with MCCsurgical
  • 012Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with CCsurgical
  • 013Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy without CC/MCCsurgical

As a secondary diagnosis, C96.9 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.

Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from C96

The conditions below can never be reported together with C96.9 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.

  • personal history of other malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissues (Z85.79)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from C81-C96

The conditions below are not part of C96.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, C96.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.

  • Kaposi's sarcoma of lymph nodes (C46.3)
  • secondary and unspecified neoplasm of lymph nodes (C77.-)
  • secondary neoplasm of bone marrow (C79.52)
  • secondary neoplasm of spleen (C78.89)

How long has C96.9 existed?

C96.9 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.

What other codes are in the C96 family? (7)