M50 vs M51

M50 (Cervical disc disorders) compared with M51 (Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders), 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. M51 carries an Excludes2 note covering M50: “cervical and cervicothoracic disc disorders (M50.-)”

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

Side by side

	M50Cervical disc disorders	M51Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders
Billing status	Non-billable header Report instead: M50.00, M50.01, M50.020, M50.021, M50.022	Non-billable header Report instead: M51.04, M51.05, M51.06, M51.14, M51.15
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	Cervical disc disorders is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (M50).	Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (M51).
Includes	cervicothoracic disc disorders with cervicalgia cervicothoracic disc disorders	—

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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