ICD-10-CM 2026 · Effective October 1, 2025

ICD-10 C23

Billable / Specific HCC v28: 9 CC

Malignant neoplasm of gallbladder

C23
Block
0
Synonyms
824
LCDs
51
Payer Policies
33
Linked CPTs

About ICD-10-CM C23

ICD-10-CM code C23 represents Malignant neoplasm of gallbladder. This is a billable/specific code in the Neoplasms chapter (block C23). The 2026 edition of ICD-10-CM C23 became effective on October 1, 2025.

Coding Tips for C23

Specialist guidance from the PayerReady Medical Coding Team. Specificity warnings, HCC capture rules, sequencing notes.

HCC capture: document with MEAT each year

C23 is a CMS-HCC v28 risk-adjustment code (category 9). To count for the patient Risk Adjustment Factor (RAF), document the diagnosis with MEAT language each calendar year: Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated. A diagnosis on the problem list alone does not satisfy CMS RADV audit standards. Include the diagnosis in the assessment with current status and current treatment plan.

Inpatient DRG impact: CC

C23 is designated CC for MS-DRG grouping. On inpatient claims, this code can shift the DRG to the with-CC variant when documented as a present-on-admission secondary diagnosis. Hospital CDI programs flag CC opportunities during chart review. Failure to capture this code may leave 30 to 80 percent of the inpatient stay revenue unrealized.

Medicare Advantage HCC Impact

CMS-HCC v28 (current)
Category 9
ESRD-HCC
Category 9
RxHCC (Part D)
Category 9

Capture this diagnosis annually for accurate risk adjustment. Missed HCC captures are the #1 revenue leak in Medicare Advantage risk programs.

Inpatient DRG Impact, CC

codes Malignant neoplasm of gallbladder. As a Complication/Comorbidity (CC), this contributes to DRG severity adjustment when documented alongside the principal diagnosis.

Medicare LCD Coverage for C23

Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) from CMS MACs that list C23 as a covered diagnosis.

824 LCDs

Showing top 10 of 824 total . Click a CPT for full coverage scope.

CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Radiation Therapies
Article ID: 59350, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 757 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 77402 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Radiation Therapies
Article ID: 59350, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 757 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 77371 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Radiation Therapies
Article ID: 59350, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 757 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 61797 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Radiation Therapies
Article ID: 59350, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 757 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT G0339 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Radiation Therapies
Article ID: 59350, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 757 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 77338 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Radiation Therapies
Article ID: 59350, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 757 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 77432 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Radiation Therapies
Article ID: 59350, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 757 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 61800 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Radiation Therapies
Article ID: 59350, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 757 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 77372 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Radiation Therapies
Article ID: 59350, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 757 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 77435 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Radiation Therapies
Article ID: 59350, Effective: 2026-01-01 00:00:00, 757 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 77407 →

Commercial Payer Coverage

Coverage policies from major commercial payers referencing C23.

51 policies

1 Aetna

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) - Medical Clinical Policy Bulletins | Aetna
Policy ID: CPB-0071

1 Cigna

Vitamin D Testing - (0526) ---- future effective policy
Policy ID: MM_0526

5 Medicare

Billing and Coding: Paclitaxel (e.g., Taxol�/Abraxane �)
Policy ID: ART-52450
Oral Anticancer Drugs - Policy Article
Policy ID: ART-52479
Oral Antiemetic Drugs (Replacement for Intravenous Antiemetics) - Policy Article
Policy ID: ART-52480
Billing and Coding: MolDX: bioTheranostics Cancer TYPE ID� Update
Policy ID: ART-53101
Billing and Coding: MolDX: bioTheranostics Cancer TYPE ID�
Policy ID: ART-54188

CPT Codes Commonly Billed with C23

Procedures frequently paired with this diagnosis based on PayerReady's Dx↔Px linkage data.

33 linkages
  • 81540 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: MolDX: bioTheranostics Cancer TYPE ID� Update CMS LCD
  • 43244 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy CMS LCD
  • 43251 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy CMS LCD
  • 43241 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy CMS LCD
  • 43243 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy CMS LCD
  • 43270 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy CMS LCD
  • 43253 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy CMS LCD
  • 43246 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy CMS LCD
  • 43233 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy CMS LCD
  • 43237 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Esophagogastroduodenoscopy CMS LCD

Convert C23 to ICD-9-CM

Per CMS General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.

ICD-10ICD-9Mapping Flags
C23 1560 00000

Flags format (5 digits): Approximate · No Map · Combination · Scenario · Choice List. Source: CMS 2017 GEMs (final version).

ICD-10 C23, Billing FAQ

Is ICD-10 code C23 billable? +

Yes, C23 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can appear as a primary or secondary diagnosis on claims.

Does C23 affect Medicare Advantage HCC risk adjustment? +

Yes. C23 maps to CMS-HCC v28 category 9. Capture this diagnosis annually for accurate Medicare Advantage risk score.

Is C23 a CC or MCC for inpatient DRG? +

Yes, this code is designated as CC. Documenting as a secondary diagnosis on inpatient claims can shift the DRG to a higher-weighted category.

What CPT codes are commonly billed with C23? +

Procedures frequently paired with C23 include: 81540, 43244, 43251, 43241, 43243.

What ICD-9 codes does C23 map to? +

Per CMS GEMs, C23 maps to ICD-9 codes: 1560. Useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.

Get the full PayerReady toolkit

Free access to CPT/ICD-10 lookup, denial appeals, fee comparator, and claim auditing with credentialing enrollment.

Start free →

Run this code through our claim audit tool

Check NCCI bundling, MUE limits, and modifier logic before submission.

Try the auditor →

Did this page help?

Quick signal so we know what to improve.

Thanks!

If you want a code reference page that doesn't exist yet, email coding@payerready.com.

Sorry to hear that.

Tell us what's missing or wrong: coding@payerready.com. We respond within 5 business days.

Reviewed by the PayerReady Medical Coding Team

Verified against the CMS 2026 code set on June 2, 2026.

Powered by 11K CPT · 98K ICD-10 · 860K MPFS rates · 4.5M NCCI edits · 9.5M NPIs. Our data methodology · About our coding team

Faster Approvals

Ready to Cut Your Enrollment Timeline in Half?

Join providers in all 50 states who handed off credentialing to a dedicated specialist. Create your free account in minutes and start enrolling the same day.

All 50 States Covered
No Long-Term Contracts
HIPAA HIPAA Compliant Platform
Dedicated Specialist Included