M21 vs M25

M21 (Other acquired deformities of limbs) compared with M25 (Other joint disorder, not elsewhere classified), from the official CMS tabular data. Both may be reported when both conditions are documented (Excludes2).

Can these codes be reported together?

Yes, when both are documented. M25 carries an Excludes2 note covering M21: “acquired deformities of limb (M20-M21)”

Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.

Side by side

	M21Other acquired deformities of limbs	M25Other joint disorder, not elsewhere classified
Billing status	Non-billable header Report instead: M21.00, M21.021, M21.022, M21.029, M21.051	Non-billable header Report instead: M25.00, M25.011, M25.012, M25.019, M25.021
Classification	M00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99)	M00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99)
Definition	Other acquired deformities of limbs is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (M21).	Other joint disorder, not elsewhere classified is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (M25).

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