2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M81Osteoporosis without current pathological fracture

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M80-M85›M81

ICD-10-CM M81
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

M81 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for osteoporosis without current pathological fracture, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as M81.0, M81.6, and M81.8.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M81
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Osteoporosis without current pathological fracture
Short Description
Osteoporosis without current pathological fracture
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
M80-M85
Disorders of bone density and structure

Code Classification

ChapterM00–M99Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
SectionM80-M85Disorders of bone density and structure
CategoryM81Osteoporosis without current pathological fracture
This CodeM81Osteoporosis without current pathological fracture

Specific Coding for Osteoporosis without current pathological fractureOverview

Non-specific codes like M81 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use M81.0 for Age-related osteoporosis without current pathological fracture

  • Use M81.6 for Localized osteoporosis [Lequesne]

  • Use M81.8 for Other osteoporosis without current pathological fracture

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to M81: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 13. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

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

  • osteoporosis with current pathological fracture (M80.-)
  • Sudeck's atrophy (M89.0)

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)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

  • code to identify:
  • major osseous defect, if applicable (M89.7-)
  • personal history of (healed) osteoporosis fracture, if applicable (Z87.310)

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.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name M81, its category, or a range that includes it.

Code First 1

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and M81 is one of the conditions named.

  • M89.7 Major osseous defect
    osteoporosis (M80.-, M81.-)

Patient EducationClinical

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease in which your bones become weak and are likely to fracture (break). The disease can develop when your bone mineral density and bone mass decrease. It can also happen if the structure and strength of your bones change.

The full article covers:

  • What is osteoporosis?
  • What causes osteoporosis?
  • Who is more likely to develop osteoporosis?
  • What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?
  • How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for osteoporosis?
  • Can osteoporosis be prevented?

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 M81Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for osteoporosis without current pathological fracture?

M81 is the ICD-10-CM category for osteoporosis without current pathological fracture, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is M81 (Osteoporosis without current pathological fracture) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for osteoporosis without current pathological fracture, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for osteoporosis without current pathological fracture need a more specific code from this category, such as M81.0, M81.6, and M81.8.

Can M81 be reported with a code from M80?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on M81 lists "osteoporosis with current pathological fracture (M80.-)". 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).

Does M81 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code to identify: major osseous defect, if applicable (M89.7-); personal history of (healed) osteoporosis fracture, if applicable (Z87.310). The additional code is reported after M81.