M46.4 vs M50.021
M46.4 (Discitis, unspecified) compared with M50.021 (Cervical disc disorder at C4-C5 level with myelopathy), 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. M50.021 carries an Excludes1 note covering M46.4: “discitis NOS (M46.4-)”
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
| M46.4Discitis, unspecified | M50.021Cervical disc disorder at C4-C5 level with myelopathy | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Billable |
| 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 | Discitis, unspecified is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (M46.4). | Cervical disc disorder at C4-C5 level with myelopathy is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M50.021). |
| Includes | — | cervicothoracic disc disorders with cervicalgia cervicothoracic disc disorders C4-C5 disc disorder with myelopathy |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources