Is C78.0 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No. C78.0 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.

Where does C78.0 sit in the tabular list?

Neoplasms (C00-D49), in the block Malignant neoplasms of ill-defined, other secondary and unspecified sites (C76-C80).

What cannot be coded together with C78.0?

C78.0 carries Excludes1 notes, which means the conditions they list can never be coded together with it on the same encounter. Some are written on the categories above C78.0 (C78) and apply to it just the same.

C78.0

C78.0 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of lung

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

C78.0 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for secondary malignant neoplasm of lung. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below.

Excludes1 inherited from the categories above C78.0

These are not written on C78.0, but they bind it: a note on a category applies to every code beneath it. Billing C78.0 with anything listed here is a denial.

Written on C78 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs

secondary carcinoid tumors of liver (C7B.02)
secondary carcinoid tumors of peritoneum (C7B.04)

Excludes2 inherited from the categories above C78.0

Also inherited, and the opposite of Excludes1: these conditions are not part of C78.0, but a patient can have both, so you may code both.

Written on C78 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs

lymph node metastases (C77.0)

Risk adjustment

C78.0 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 history

C78.0 has not changed since FY2024 — no addition, revision or deletion across the three most recent ICD-10-CM releases.

Code to one of these instead C78.0

3 child codes. Green means billable.

Related codes at this level

Codes that share C78. If C78.0 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.

Questions about C78.0

Is C78.0 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: No. C78.0 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
Where does C78.0 sit in the tabular list?: Neoplasms (C00-D49), in the block Malignant neoplasms of ill-defined, other secondary and unspecified sites (C76-C80).
What cannot be coded together with C78.0?: C78.0 carries Excludes1 notes, which means the conditions they list can never be coded together with it on the same encounter. Some are written on the categories above C78.0 (C78) and apply to it just the same.