M94.8X4 — Other specified disorders of cartilage, hand
Is M94.8X4 billable?
Yes, but M94.8X4 is an unspecified code. M94.8X4 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, M94.8X4 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 M94.8X4 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
- M94.8X0Other specified disorders of cartilage, multiple sites
- M94.8X1Other specified disorders of cartilage, shoulder
- M94.8X2Other specified disorders of cartilage, upper arm
- M94.8X3Other specified disorders of cartilage, forearm
- M94.8X5Other specified disorders of cartilage, thigh
- M94.8X6Other specified disorders of cartilage, lower leg
- M94.8X7Other specified disorders of cartilage, ankle and foot
- M94.8X8Other specified disorders of cartilage, other site
- M94.8X9Other specified disorders of cartilage, unspecified sites
M94.8X4 at a glance
| Code | M94.8X4 |
|---|---|
| Description | Other specified disorders of cartilage, hand |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does M94.8X4 group to?
M94.8X4 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.
- 564Other Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue Diagnoses with MCCmedical
- 565Other Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue Diagnoses with CCmedical
- 566Other Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue Diagnoses without CC/MCCmedical
How is M94.8X4 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under M94.8X, the nearest indexed parent of M94.8X4. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Chondritis › purulent
- Disorder › cartilage › specified type NEC (of)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from M91-M94
The conditions below can never be reported together with M94.8X4 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- postprocedural chondropathies (M96.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 13
The conditions below are not part of M94.8X4, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, M94.8X4 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 M94.8X4 existed?
M94.8X4 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 M94.8X family? (9)
- M94.8X0Other specified disorders of cartilage, multiple sites
- M94.8X1Other specified disorders of cartilage, shoulder
- M94.8X2Other specified disorders of cartilage, upper arm
- M94.8X3Other specified disorders of cartilage, forearm
- M94.8X5Other specified disorders of cartilage, thigh
- M94.8X6Other specified disorders of cartilage, lower leg
- M94.8X7Other specified disorders of cartilage, ankle and foot
- M94.8X8Other specified disorders of cartilage, other site
- M94.8X9Other specified disorders of cartilage, unspecified sites