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

ICD-10 C79.40

Billable / Specific HCC v28: 8 CC

Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of nervous system

C79
Block
0
Synonyms
228
LCDs
26
Payer Policies
12
Linked CPTs

About ICD-10-CM C79.40

ICD-10-CM code C79.40 represents Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of nervous system. This is a billable/specific code in the chapter (block C79). The 2026 edition of ICD-10-CM C79.40 became effective on October 1, 2025.

Coding Tips for C79.40

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

HCC capture: document with MEAT each year

C79.40 is a CMS-HCC v28 risk-adjustment code (category 8). 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

C79.40 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 8
ESRD-HCC
Category 8
RxHCC (Part D)
Category 8

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 Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of nervous system. As a Complication/Comorbidity (CC), this contributes to DRG severity adjustment when documented alongside the principal diagnosis.

Medicare LCD Coverage for C79.40

Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) from CMS MACs that list C79.40 as a covered diagnosis.

228 LCDs

Showing top 10 of 228 total . Click a CPT for full coverage scope.

CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74170 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74177 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74160 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74178 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74150 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 72194 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 74176 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 72192 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Article ID: 56421, Effective: 2025-11-01 00:00:00, 5389 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 72193 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: MolDX: Phenotypic Biomarker Detection from Circulating Tumor Cells
Article ID: 58063, Effective: 2023-11-16 00:00:00, 90 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 81479 →

Commercial Payer Coverage

Coverage policies from major commercial payers referencing C79.40.

26 policies

5 Medicare

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: CT of the Abdomen and Pelvis
Policy ID: ART-56421
Billing and Coding: Computerized Axial Tomography (CT), Thorax
Policy ID: ART-56580
Billing and Coding: CT of the Head
Policy ID: ART-56612

CPT Codes Commonly Billed with C79.40

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

12 linkages
  • Q5123 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Off-label Use of Rituximab and Rituximab Biosimilars CMS LCD
  • J9312 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Off-label Use of Rituximab and Rituximab Biosimilars CMS LCD
  • Q5115 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Off-label Use of Rituximab and Rituximab Biosimilars CMS LCD
  • Q5119 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Off-label Use of Rituximab and Rituximab Biosimilars CMS LCD
  • 95940 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Intraoperative Neurophysiological Testing CMS LCD
  • G0453 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Intraoperative Neurophysiological Testing CMS LCD
  • C8931 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Magnetic Resonance Angiography CMS LCD
  • C8936 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Magnetic Resonance Angiography CMS LCD
  • C8934 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Magnetic Resonance Angiography CMS LCD
  • C8932 CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Magnetic Resonance Angiography CMS LCD

Convert C79.40 to ICD-9-CM

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

ICD-10ICD-9Mapping Flags
C79.40 1984 10000

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

ICD-10 C79.40, Billing FAQ

Is ICD-10 code C79.40 billable? +

Yes, C79.40 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can appear as a primary or secondary diagnosis on claims.

Does C79.40 affect Medicare Advantage HCC risk adjustment? +

Yes. C79.40 maps to CMS-HCC v28 category 8. Capture this diagnosis annually for accurate Medicare Advantage risk score.

Is C79.40 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 C79.40? +

Procedures frequently paired with C79.40 include: Q5123, J9312, Q5115, Q5119, 95940.

What ICD-9 codes does C79.40 map to? +

Per CMS GEMs, C79.40 maps to ICD-9 codes: 1984. Useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.

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Reviewed by the PayerReady Medical Coding Team

Verified against the CMS 2026 code set on May 31, 2026.

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