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M02.042 vs M02.049

M02.042 (Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, left hand) compared with M02.049 (Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, unspecified hand), from the official CMS tabular data. M02.042 and M02.049 code the same condition on opposite sides. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

M02.042
Left
Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, left hand
M02.049
Unspecified
Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, unspecified hand

Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

These codes share a category and title and differ only in the side affected. The documentation decides which applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Source: ICD-10-CM tabular list (laterality variant derived from the code title)

Can these codes be reported together?

Same condition, opposite side. M02.042 and M02.049 name the same condition on opposite sides of the body.

Same category and title, differing only in which side is affected — the documentation decides which one applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Side by side

M02.042Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, left handM02.049Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, unspecified hand
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationM00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99)M00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99)
DefinitionArthropathy following intestinal bypass, left hand is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M02.042).Arthropathy following intestinal bypass, unspecified hand is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M02.049).
Code first
underlying disease, such as:
congenital syphilis [Clutton's joints] (A50.5)
underlying disease, such as:
congenital syphilis [Clutton's joints] (A50.5)

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources