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M21.1 vs Q66.92

M21.1 (Varus deformity, not elsewhere classified) compared with Q66.92 (Congenital deformity of feet, unspecified, left foot), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.

Can these codes be reported together?

No — do not report together. M21.1 carries an Excludes1 note covering Q66.92: “congenital deformities and malformations of limbs (Q65-Q66, Q68-Q74)”

Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

No — do not report together. Q66.92 carries an Excludes1 note covering M21.1: “varus deformities (acquired) (M21.1-)”

Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Side by side

M21.1Varus deformity, not elsewhere classifiedQ66.92Congenital deformity of feet, unspecified, left foot
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: M21.10, M21.121, M21.122, M21.129, M21.151

Billable
ClassificationM00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99)Q00-Q99 — Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
DefinitionVarus deformity, not elsewhere classified is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (M21.1).Congenital deformity of feet, unspecified, left foot is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (Q66.92).

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