Is C44 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No. C44 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.

Where does C44 sit in the tabular list?

Neoplasms (C00-D49), in the block Melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin (C43-C44).

What cannot be coded together with C44?

C44 carries an Excludes1 note, which means the conditions it lists can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.

C44

C44 — Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

C44 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below.

Excludes1 — never code together

These conditions cannot occur together. Billing both on the same encounter is a denial.

Kaposi's sarcoma of skin (C46.0)
malignant melanoma of skin (C43.-)
malignant neoplasm of skin of genital organs (C51-C52, C60.-, C63.2)
Merkel cell carcinoma (C4A.-)

Includes

Conditions this code covers.

malignant neoplasm of sebaceous glands
malignant neoplasm of sweat glands

Other codes that can never be billed with C44

These codes carry an Excludes1 note pointing at C44. The conflict binds both ways, but ICD-10-CM only writes it down on one side — so you would not find this by reading C44 alone.

C69Malignant neoplasm of eye and adnexa
C76Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites
C00Malignant neoplasm of lip
C30.0Malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity
C30.1Malignant neoplasm of middle ear
C50Malignant neoplasm of breast

Risk adjustment

C44 does not map to an HCC and does not risk-adjust under CMS-HCC V28. That is normal — most ICD-10 codes do not. It still needs to be coded correctly; it just will not move a RAF score.

Code to one of these instead C44

10 child codes. Green means billable.

Questions about C44

Is C44 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: No. C44 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
Where does C44 sit in the tabular list?: Neoplasms (C00-D49), in the block Melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin (C43-C44).
What cannot be coded together with C44?: C44 carries an Excludes1 note, which means the conditions it lists can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.