M48.53
M48.53 — Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, cervicothoracic region
Non-billable headerICD-10-CM
M48.53 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, cervicothoracic region. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below. This code also requires a 7th character before it is complete.
This code requires a 7th character
The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from subcategory M48.5:
- A
- initial encounter for fracture
- D
- subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- G
- subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- S
- sequela of fracture
Risk adjustment
M48.53 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 M48.53
4 child codes. Green means billable.
- M48.53XACollapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, cervicothoracic region, initial encounter for fracture
- M48.53XDCollapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, cervicothoracic region, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
- M48.53XGCollapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, cervicothoracic region, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
- M48.53XSCollapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, cervicothoracic region, sequela of fracture
Related codes at this level
Codes that share M48.5. If M48.53 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.
- M48.50Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, site unspecified
- M48.51Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, occipito-atlanto-axial region
- M48.52Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, cervical region
- M48.54Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, thoracic region
- M48.55Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, thoracolumbar region
- M48.56Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, lumbar region
- M48.57Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, lumbosacral region
- M48.58Collapsed vertebra, not elsewhere classified, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
Questions about M48.53
- Is M48.53 a billable ICD-10-CM code?
- No. M48.53 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
- Where does M48.53 sit in the tabular list?
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99), in the block Spondylopathies (M45-M49).