M48.50XA — Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, site unspecified, initial encounter for fracture
Is M48.50XA billable?
Yes, but M48.50XA will trip a Medicare edit. M48.50XA is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, CMS lists M48.50XA under Medicare Code Editor edit 20, “Unspecified code” — meaning a code specifying laterality (right, left or bilateral) exists in the same family. On an inpatient claim this triggers the edit, because CMS holds that there are very limited circumstances in which laterality cannot be documented.
More specific alternatives
M48.50XA at a glance
| Code | M48.50XA |
|---|---|
| Description | Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, site unspecified, initial encounter for fracture |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
| 7th character "A" | initial encounter for fracture |
What does the 7th character "A" mean in M48.50XA?
In M48.50XA, the 7th character A means initial encounter for fracture. The 7th character is required for M48.50XA to be a valid, complete code.
Same condition, different episode of care — switch the 7th character:
What Medicare edits apply to M48.50XA?
The Medicare Code Editor screens inpatient claims before they are grouped. These edits name M48.50XA directly.
A code specifying laterality (right, left or bilateral) exists in the same family. CMS holds that there are very limited circumstances in which laterality cannot be documented.
Which MS-DRGs does M48.50XA group to?
M48.50XA sits in MDC 08 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.
- 542Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy with MCCmedical
- 543Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy with CCmedical
- 544Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy without CC/MCCmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, M48.50XA is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is M48.50XA listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under M48.50, the nearest indexed parent of M48.50XA. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Collapse › vertebra
- Fracture, pathological › compression (pathologic)
- Collapse › vertebra › in › specified disease NEC
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from M48.5
The conditions below can never be reported together with M48.50XA on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- current injury - see Injury of spine, by body region
- fatigue fracture of vertebra (M48.4)
- pathological fracture of vertebra due to neoplasm (M84.58)
- pathological fracture of vertebra due to other diagnosis (M84.68)
- pathological fracture of vertebra due to osteoporosis (M80.-)
- pathological fracture NOS (M84.4-)
- stress fracture of vertebra (M48.4-)
- traumatic fracture of vertebra (S12.-, S22.-, S32.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 13
The conditions below are not part of M48.50XA, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, M48.50XA 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)
How long has M48.50XA existed?
M48.50XA 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.