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M50.021 ICD-10-CM Code: Cervical disc disorder at C4-C5 level with myelopathy

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43.0, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 551 — MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITH MCC (MDC 08)
  • MS-DRG 552 — MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC (MDC 08)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Cervical disc disorder at C4-C5 level with myelopathy is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M50.021).

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for M50.021 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Includes

Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.

  • cervicothoracic disc disorders with cervicalgia
  • cervicothoracic disc disorders

Inclusion Terms

Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.

  • C4-C5 disc disorder with myelopathy

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Frequently Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on M50.021 name these codes. Each comparison page covers when the two can — or must not — be reported together.

Change history

  • FY2017 — 2016-10-01
    Added to the code set
    Cervical disc disorder at C4-C5 level with myelopathy
    FY2017 changes

Verify Before Coding

  • CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim.

Contextual Map

Every relationship of M50.021 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Hierarchy

  • M00-M99 — Chapter 13: Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99) (M00-M99) [Hierarchy]
  • M50-M54 — Other dorsopathies [Hierarchy]

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

  • G54 — Nerve root and plexus disorders [Excludes1](via M50.-): “intervertebral disc disorders (M50-M51)” · check together
  • G99.2 — Myelopathy in diseases classified elsewhere [Excludes1](via M50.0.-): “intervertebral disease (M50.0-, M51.0-)” · check together
  • M54.2 — Cervicalgia [Excludes1](via M50.-): “cervicalgia due to intervertebral cervical disc disorder (M50.-)” · check together
  • S13.0 — Traumatic rupture of cervical intervertebral disc [Excludes1](via M50.-): “rupture or displacement (nontraumatic) of cervical intervertebral disc NOS (M50.-)” · check together

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

  • M51 — Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders [Excludes2](via M50.-): “cervical and cervicothoracic disc disorders (M50.-)” · check together
  • M53.1 — Cervicobrachial syndrome [Excludes2](via M50.-): “cervical disc disorder (M50.-)” · check together

Clinical classification (CCSR)

  • MUS011 — Spondylopathies/spondyloarthropathy (including infective) [CCSR]

Potential MS-DRG

  • CC — Complication or Comorbidity [MS-DRG severity]: “As a secondary diagnosis this code can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier (CC).”
  • DRG 551 — MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITH MCC [MS-DRG]: “MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITH MCC (MDC 08)”
  • DRG 552 — MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC [MS-DRG]: “MEDICAL BACK PROBLEMS WITHOUT MCC (MDC 08)”

MDC crossing · procedures (18508)

  • MDC 08 — Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue [MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs.”
  • 005T0ZZ — Destruction of Spinal Meninges, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Destruction of Spinal Meninges, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 08, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 005T3ZZ — Destruction of Spinal Meninges, Percutaneous Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Destruction of Spinal Meninges, Percutaneous Approach — grouped in MDC 08, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 005T4ZZ — Destruction of Spinal Meninges, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Destruction of Spinal Meninges, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach — grouped in MDC 08, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 005W0Z3 — Destruction of Cervical Spinal Cord using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Destruction of Cervical Spinal Cord using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 08, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 005W0ZZ — Destruction of Cervical Spinal Cord, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Destruction of Cervical Spinal Cord, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 08, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • and 18503 more

Index entries

  • Disorder (of), disc (intervertebral), cervical, with, myelopathy, C4-C5[Index term]

Nearest codes (40)

  • M50 — Cervical disc disorders [Sibling]
  • M50.0 — Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy [Sibling]
  • M50.00 — Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, unspecified cervical region [Sibling]
  • M50.01 — Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, high cervical region [Sibling]
  • M50.02 — Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, mid-cervical region [Sibling]
  • M50.020 — Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, mid-cervical region, unspecified level [Sibling]
  • M50.022 — Cervical disc disorder at C5-C6 level with myelopathy [Sibling]
  • M50.023 — Cervical disc disorder at C6-C7 level with myelopathy [Sibling]
  • and 32 more

Change history

  • FY2017 — Added to the code set [Change history]

Referenced by Other Codes

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):MUS011 — Spondylopathies/spondyloarthropathy (including infective) (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Potential MS-DRG Relationships (FY2026)

CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 14 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 2 MS-DRGs: DRG 551 (MDC 08), DRG 552 (MDC 08).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes on other codes that name M50.021 or its code family.

4 Excludes1 notes across 3 chapters: G54 (via M50.-), G99.2 (via M50.0.-), M54.2 (via M50.-), S13.0 (via M50.-).

2 Excludes2 notes: M51 (via M50.-), M53.1 (via M50.-).

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to M50.021 in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • M50.0 — Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy
  • M50.00 — Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, unspecified cervical region
  • M50.01 — Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, high cervical region
  • M50.02 — Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, mid-cervical region
  • M50.020 — Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, mid-cervical region, unspecified level
  • M50.022 — Cervical disc disorder at C5-C6 level with myelopathy
  • M50.023 — Cervical disc disorder at C6-C7 level with myelopathy
  • M50.03 — Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, cervicothoracic region
  • M50.1 — Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy
  • M50.10 — Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, unspecified cervical region

View all codes in the M50 family

Indexed Clinical Terms (1)

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code.

  • Disorder (of), disc (intervertebral), cervical, with, myelopathy, C4-C5