M99.18

Subluxation complex (vertebral) of rib cage

FY2027Chapter 13: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue/M99 Biomechanical lesions, not elsewhere classified

BillableComplete code, valid to report

M99.18 (also written M9918) is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for subluxation complex (vertebral) of rib cage. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. It is one of the 91 codes in category M99 (Biomechanical lesions, not elsewhere classified). The Alphabetic Index lists it under 4 entries. Its coding notes include 10 Excludes2 entries.

Excludes2

Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.

Also from chapter/block level (10 notes)
Inherited from Chapter 13 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
  • arthropathic psoriasis (L40.5-)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • compartment syndrome (traumatic) (T79.A-)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Care settings

How CMS programs treat this code. These are CMS claim edits and list entries, not coverage or eligibility rules.

Home Health Primary

Accepted as the primary (principal) diagnosis on a home health claim. The Home Health Grouper assigns it to the Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation clinical group.

Source: CMS Home Health Grouper Software v07.2.26, effective October 1, 2026

Hospital CC

Counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) when reported as a secondary diagnosis on an inpatient claim. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 19 codes in its exclusion list. Some MS-DRGs also ignore a CC or MCC that defines the DRG.

Source: CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v44, effective October 1, 2026, Appendix C

HAC

On the CMS list of hospital-acquired conditions (HAC 05: Falls and Trauma). When the claim reports it with a present-on-admission (POA) indicator of N (not present) or U (documentation insufficient), CMS does not pay the CC or MCC DRG for it. A POA of Y (present) or W (clinically undetermined) is paid normally.

Source: CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v44, effective October 1, 2026, Appendix I; CMS Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HAC) Coding page, POA indicator payment table

Notes

Inherited from M99 Biomechanical lesions, not elsewhere classified
  • This category should not be used if the condition can be classified elsewhere.
Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Chapter 13 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
  • Use an external cause code following the code for the musculoskeletal condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the musculoskeletal condition

Alphabetic Index terms

Terms the official Alphabetic Index lists for this code. 4 entries