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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

M46.22Osteomyelitis of vertebra, cervical region

✓ Billable / specificCC — complication/comorbidity

M46.22 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for osteomyelitis of vertebra, cervical region. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About M46.22

M46.22 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for osteomyelitis of vertebra, cervical region. It belongs to category M46 (other inflammatory spondylopathies), block M45-M49 (spondylopathies) and chapter 13 (diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within M46.2 (osteomyelitis of vertebra), M46.22 is specifically for osteomyelitis of vertebra, cervical region. Related codes cover site unspecified (M46.20), occipito-atlanto-axial region (M46.21), cervicothoracic region (M46.23), thoracic region (M46.24), thoracolumbar region (M46.25), lumbar region (M46.26), lumbosacral region (M46.27) and sacral and sacrococcygeal region (M46.28).

As a secondary diagnosis it is a CC (complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the "with CC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 456 (Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with Spinal Curvature, Malignancy, or Infection with MCC, relative weight 7.6244), DRG 457 (Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with Spinal Curvature, Malignancy, or Infection with CC, relative weight 5.3668), DRG 458 (Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with Spinal Curvature, Malignancy, or Infection without CC/MCC, relative weight 4.0388), DRG 539 (Osteomyelitis with MCC, relative weight 1.9385), DRG 540 (Osteomyelitis with CC, relative weight 1.3079) and DRG 541 (Osteomyelitis without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.8297), in MDC 08 (Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 730.28 (unspecified osteomyelitis, other specified sites).

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to M46.22.

Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 13: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue.

Alphabetic index entries

1 entries

Terms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to M46.22.

MS-DRG v44.0 grouping

All DRGs →

Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.

MDC 08 · Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue

ICD-9-CM equivalent

Converter →
  • 730.28Unspecified osteomyelitis, other specified sitesapproximate

From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about M46.22

Is M46.22 billable?

Yes. M46.22 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can M46.22 be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict M46.22 as a principal diagnosis.

Is M46.22 a CC or MCC?

M46.22 is a CC (complication or comorbidity) under MS-DRG v44.0, unless excluded by the principal diagnosis.

What DRG does M46.22 group to?

M46.22 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 456 (Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with Spinal Curvature, Malignancy, or Infection with MCC), MS-DRG 457 (Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with Spinal Curvature, Malignancy, or Infection with CC), MS-DRG 458 (Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with Spinal Curvature, Malignancy, or Infection without CC/MCC), MS-DRG 539 (Osteomyelitis with MCC), MS-DRG 540 (Osteomyelitis with CC) and MS-DRG 541 (Osteomyelitis without CC/MCC). Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.

What is the ICD-9 code for M46.22?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map M46.22 to ICD-9-CM 730.28.