MCMCB Pro
D48.0

D48.0Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of bone and articular cartilage

Billable / specific codeICD-10-CM

D48.0 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code for neoplasm of uncertain behavior of bone and articular cartilage. It is valid for submission on a claim.

Excludes1 — never code together

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

  • neoplasm of uncertain behavior of cartilage of ear (D48.1-)
  • neoplasm of uncertain behavior of cartilage of larynx (D38.0)
  • neoplasm of uncertain behavior of cartilage of nose (D38.5)
  • neoplasm of uncertain behavior of connective tissue of eyelid (D48.1-)
  • neoplasm of uncertain behavior of synovia (D48.1-)

Other codes that can never be billed with D48.0

These codes carry an Excludes1 note pointing at D48.0. The conflict binds both ways, but ICD-10-CM only writes it down on one side — so you would not find this by reading D48.0 alone.

  • D48.1Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of connective and other soft tissue

Risk adjustment

D48.0 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.

Medicare coverage

D48.0 is named in 20 Medicare coverage policies 20 listing it as supporting medical necessity. Which of them applies to you depends on your Medicare contractor, and coverage genuinely differs by state.

  • A52399Billing and Coding: Denosumab (Prolia®, Xgeva®, Jubbonti®, Wyost®, Ospomyv™,Xbryk™,Bomyntra®, Conexxence®, Stoboclo®, Osenvelt®,Bildyos®, Bilprevda®)
  • A52480Oral Antiemetic Drugs (Replacement for Intravenous Antiemetics) - Policy Article
  • A53101Billing and Coding: MolDX: bioTheranostics Cancer TYPE ID® Update
  • A54188Billing and Coding: MolDX: bioTheranostics Cancer TYPE ID®

How D48.0 is indexed

Coders do not find codes by browsing the tabular list — they look them up in the alphabetic index, under the word the physician wrote. These are the index entries that lead here, so you can see which chart wordings map to D48.0.

  • Ecchondrosis
  • Osteoclastoma
  • Tumorgiant cellbone

Related codes at this level

Codes that share D48. If D48.0 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.

Questions about D48.0

Is D48.0 a billable ICD-10-CM code?
Yes. D48.0 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code and is valid for submission on a claim.
Where does D48.0 sit in the tabular list?
Neoplasms (C00-D49), in the block Neoplasms of uncertain behavior, polycythemia vera and myelodysplastic syndromes (D37-D48).
What cannot be coded together with D48.0?
D48.0 carries an Excludes1 note, which means the conditions it lists can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.
ICD-10-CMFY2026-Apr· effective April 1, 2026

Loaded directly from the CMS/NCHS ICD-10-CM public-domain release — see data sources and our editorial policy. If this page disagrees with the CMS tabular list, this page is wrong. Reference information for professional coders; not medical or billing advice.