2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M12Other and unspecified arthropathy

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M05-M14›M12

ICD-10-CM M12
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

M12 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for other and unspecified arthropathy, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as M12.00, M12.011, M12.012, and M12.019.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M12
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Other and unspecified arthropathy
Short Description
Other and unspecified arthropathy
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
M05-M14
Inflammatory polyarthropathies

Code Classification

ChapterM00–M99Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
SectionM05-M14Inflammatory polyarthropathies
CategoryM12Other and unspecified arthropathy
This CodeM12Other and unspecified arthropathy

Specific Coding for Other and unspecified arthropathyOverview

Non-specific codes like M12 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • M12.0 for Chronic postrheumatic arthropathy [Jaccoud]

  • Use M12.00 for Chronic postrheumatic arthropathy [Jaccoud], unspecified site

  • M12.01 for Chronic postrheumatic arthropathy [Jaccoud], shoulder

  • M12.02 for Chronic postrheumatic arthropathy [Jaccoud], elbow

  • M12.03 for Chronic postrheumatic arthropathy [Jaccoud], wrist

  • M12.04 for Chronic postrheumatic arthropathy [Jaccoud], hand

  • M12.05 for Chronic postrheumatic arthropathy [Jaccoud], hip

  • M12.06 for Chronic postrheumatic arthropathy [Jaccoud], knee

  • M12.07 for Chronic postrheumatic arthropathy [Jaccoud], ankle and foot

  • Use M12.08 for Chronic postrheumatic arthropathy [Jaccoud], other specified site

  • Use M12.09 for Chronic postrheumatic arthropathy [Jaccoud], multiple sites

  • M12.1 for Kaschin-Beck disease

  • Use M12.10 for Kaschin-Beck disease, unspecified site

  • M12.11 for Kaschin-Beck disease, shoulder

  • M12.12 for Kaschin-Beck disease, elbow

  • M12.13 for Kaschin-Beck disease, wrist

  • M12.14 for Kaschin-Beck disease, hand

  • M12.15 for Kaschin-Beck disease, hip

  • M12.16 for Kaschin-Beck disease, knee

  • M12.17 for Kaschin-Beck disease, ankle and foot

  • Use M12.18 for Kaschin-Beck disease, vertebrae

  • Use M12.19 for Kaschin-Beck disease, multiple sites

  • M12.2 for Villonodular synovitis (pigmented)

  • Use M12.20 for Villonodular synovitis (pigmented), unspecified site

  • M12.21 for Villonodular synovitis (pigmented), shoulder

  • M12.22 for Villonodular synovitis (pigmented), elbow

  • M12.23 for Villonodular synovitis (pigmented), wrist

  • M12.24 for Villonodular synovitis (pigmented), hand

  • M12.25 for Villonodular synovitis (pigmented), hip

  • M12.26 for Villonodular synovitis (pigmented), knee

  • M12.27 for Villonodular synovitis (pigmented), ankle and foot

  • Use M12.28 for Villonodular synovitis (pigmented), other specified site

  • Use M12.29 for Villonodular synovitis (pigmented), multiple sites

  • M12.3 for Palindromic rheumatism

  • Use M12.30 for Palindromic rheumatism, unspecified site

  • M12.31 for Palindromic rheumatism, shoulder

  • M12.32 for Palindromic rheumatism, elbow

  • M12.33 for Palindromic rheumatism, wrist

  • M12.34 for Palindromic rheumatism, hand

  • M12.35 for Palindromic rheumatism, hip

  • M12.36 for Palindromic rheumatism, knee

  • M12.37 for Palindromic rheumatism, ankle and foot

  • Use M12.38 for Palindromic rheumatism, other specified site

  • Use M12.39 for Palindromic rheumatism, multiple sites

  • M12.4 for Intermittent hydrarthrosis

  • Use M12.40 for Intermittent hydrarthrosis, unspecified site

  • M12.41 for Intermittent hydrarthrosis, shoulder

  • M12.42 for Intermittent hydrarthrosis, elbow

  • M12.43 for Intermittent hydrarthrosis, wrist

  • M12.44 for Intermittent hydrarthrosis, hand

  • M12.45 for Intermittent hydrarthrosis, hip

  • M12.46 for Intermittent hydrarthrosis, knee

  • M12.47 for Intermittent hydrarthrosis, ankle and foot

  • Use M12.48 for Intermittent hydrarthrosis, other site

  • Use M12.49 for Intermittent hydrarthrosis, multiple sites

  • M12.5 for Traumatic arthropathy

  • Use M12.50 for Traumatic arthropathy, unspecified site

  • M12.51 for Traumatic arthropathy, shoulder

  • M12.52 for Traumatic arthropathy, elbow

  • M12.53 for Traumatic arthropathy, wrist

  • M12.54 for Traumatic arthropathy, hand

  • M12.55 for Traumatic arthropathy, hip

  • M12.56 for Traumatic arthropathy, knee

  • M12.57 for Traumatic arthropathy, ankle and foot

  • Use M12.58 for Traumatic arthropathy, other specified site

  • Use M12.59 for Traumatic arthropathy, multiple sites

  • M12.8 for Other specific arthropathies, not elsewhere classified

  • Use M12.80 for Other specific arthropathies, not elsewhere classified, unspecified site

  • M12.81 for Other specific arthropathies, not elsewhere classified, shoulder

  • M12.82 for Other specific arthropathies, not elsewhere classified, elbow

  • M12.83 for Other specific arthropathies, not elsewhere classified, wrist

  • M12.84 for Other specific arthropathies, not elsewhere classified, hand

  • M12.85 for Other specific arthropathies, not elsewhere classified, hip

  • M12.86 for Other specific arthropathies, not elsewhere classified, knee

  • M12.87 for Other specific arthropathies, not elsewhere classified, ankle and foot

  • Use M12.88 for Other specific arthropathies, not elsewhere classified, other specified site

  • Use M12.89 for Other specific arthropathies, not elsewhere classified, multiple sites

  • Use M12.9 for Arthropathy, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to M12: its own notes plus those printed at block M00-M25 and Chapter 13. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From Block M00-M25 applies to 2,249 codes
  • Disorders affecting predominantly peripheral (limb) joints

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 13 (M00-M99) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue applies to 6,687 codes
  • 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)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 13 (M00-M99) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue applies to 6,687 codes
  • Use an external cause code following the code for the musculoskeletal condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the musculoskeletal condition

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Patient EducationClinical

Arthritis

If you feel pain and stiffness in your body or have trouble moving around, you might have arthritis. Any disorder that affects the joints is often called arthritis. Joints are places where two bones meet, such as your elbow or knee.

The full article covers:

  • What is arthritis?
  • What are the types of arthritis?
  • What are the symptoms of arthritis?
  • Who is more likely to get arthritis?
  • How is arthritis diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for arthritis?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About M12Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for other and unspecified arthropathy?

M12 is the ICD-10-CM category for other and unspecified arthropathy, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is M12 (Other and unspecified arthropathy) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for other and unspecified arthropathy, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for other and unspecified arthropathy need a more specific code from this category, such as M12.00, M12.011, and M12.012.

Can M12 be reported with J38.7?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on M12 lists "cricoarytenoid arthropathy (J38.7)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).