M54.6: Pain in thoracic spine
Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2027
What ICD-10-CM says
Excludes1 (never coded with M54.6)
- pain in thoracic spine due to intervertebral disc disorder (M51.-)
Notes at M54, Dorsalgia (they apply to every code under it)
Excludes1 (never coded with M54.6)
- psychogenic dorsalgia (F45.41)
What M54.6 covers
M54.6 is for mid-back pain, in the thoracic spine, with no more specific cause documented. Primary care, chiropractic and physical therapy use it.
Thoracic radiculopathy is M54.14, and thoracic spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy is M47.814. Neck pain is M54.2 and low back pain M54.5-.
Billing and coding notes
M54.6 has an excludes1 for thoracic spine pain due to an intervertebral disc disorder (M51.-). If the provider links the pain to a disc, code the disc disorder and not M54.6.
The M54 category also excludes psychogenic dorsalgia (F45.41). Pain from a thoracic strain or fracture is coded in chapter 19 with the correct seventh character.
Related codes under M54
Questions about M54.6
Is M54.6 billable?
Yes. M54.6 is a complete code.
What is the difference between M54.6 and M54.14?
M54.6 is pain in the thoracic spine. M54.14 is thoracic radiculopathy, where a nerve root is involved. Use M54.14 when the provider documents radiculopathy.
ICD-10-CM in CloudMedico
In CloudMedico, a visit's diagnoses come from the current ICD-10-CM list. For US practices, the visit flags a code that isn't billable on its date, and a superbill made from an invoice carries the visit's diagnoses.
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