M23.000 — Cystic meniscus, unspecified lateral meniscus, right knee
Is M23.000 billable?
Yes, but M23.000 is an unspecified code. M23.000 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, M23.000 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 M23.000 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
- M23.001Cystic meniscus, unspecified lateral meniscus, left knee
- M23.002Cystic meniscus, unspecified lateral meniscus, unspecified knee
- M23.003Cystic meniscus, unspecified medial meniscus, right knee
- M23.004Cystic meniscus, unspecified medial meniscus, left knee
- M23.005Cystic meniscus, unspecified medial meniscus, unspecified knee
- M23.006Cystic meniscus, unspecified meniscus, right knee
- M23.007Cystic meniscus, unspecified meniscus, left knee
- M23.009Cystic meniscus, unspecified meniscus, unspecified knee
M23.000 at a glance
| Code | M23.000 |
|---|---|
| Description | Cystic meniscus, unspecified lateral meniscus, right knee |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does M23.000 group to?
M23.000 sits in MDC 08 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 562Fracture, Sprain, Strain and Dislocation Except Femur, Hip, Pelvis and Thigh with MCCmedical
- 563Fracture, Sprain, Strain and Dislocation Except Femur, Hip, Pelvis and Thigh without MCCmedical
How is M23.000 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under M23.0, the nearest indexed parent of M23.000. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Derangement › knee › meniscus › cystic
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from M23
The conditions below can never be reported together with M23.000 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 13
The conditions below are not part of M23.000, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, M23.000 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- arthropathic psoriasis (L40.5-)
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- compartment syndrome (traumatic) (T79.A-)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from M20-M25
The conditions below are not part of M23.000, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, M23.000 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- joints of the spine (M40-M54)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from M23
The conditions below are not part of M23.000, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, M23.000 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has M23.000 existed?
M23.000 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 M23.00 family? (8)
- M23.001Cystic meniscus, unspecified lateral meniscus, left knee
- M23.002Cystic meniscus, unspecified lateral meniscus, unspecified knee
- M23.003Cystic meniscus, unspecified medial meniscus, right knee
- M23.004Cystic meniscus, unspecified medial meniscus, left knee
- M23.005Cystic meniscus, unspecified medial meniscus, unspecified knee
- M23.006Cystic meniscus, unspecified meniscus, right knee
- M23.007Cystic meniscus, unspecified meniscus, left knee
- M23.009Cystic meniscus, unspecified meniscus, unspecified knee