What is the ICD-10 code for osteoarthritis?

The ICD-10-CM code for osteoarthritis is M19.90 when documented without further specification. More specific documentation changes the code — see the scenario table.

Yes — M19.90 is a billable ICD-10-CM code, but payers expect the most specific code the documentation supports.

ICD-10 Code for osteoarthritis

The ICD-10-CM code for osteoarthritis is M19.90 when documented without further specification. Unspecified osteoarthritis of unspecified site codes to M19.90. The M15-M19 block encodes OA by type (primary, secondary, post-traumatic) and by site with laterality — M19.90 is the default only when neither is documented.

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Symptom code vs. confirmed diagnosis

Osteoarthritis is a diagnosis, not a symptom; joint pain alone without an OA diagnosis is coded to the pain symptom (M25.5-). Assign M19.- once the provider documents osteoarthritis.

Which Code Should You Use?

M19.90 ✓ Billable — Unspecified osteoarthritis, unspecified site

Osteoarthritis, unspecified type, unspecified site.

M19.011 ✓ Billable — Primary osteoarthritis, right shoulder

Primary osteoarthritis, right shoulder.

M19.012 ✓ Billable — Primary osteoarthritis, left shoulder

Primary osteoarthritis, left shoulder.

M19.019 ✓ Billable — Primary osteoarthritis, unspecified shoulder

Primary osteoarthritis, unspecified shoulder.

What to Document

OA type — primary, secondary, or post-traumatic (drives the 4th character).
Affected joint/site and laterality (5th-6th characters).
Whether multiple joints are involved (may indicate polyosteoarthritis, M15.-).

Common Documentation Pitfalls

Hip osteoarthritis (M16.-) and knee osteoarthritis (M17.-) are NOT in M19 — don't force them into M19.9-.
M19.90 (unspecified) is overused when the site or type is actually documented.

Also Known As

Official ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index terms that point to M19.90:

Osteoarthropathy (hypertrophic)
Arthritis, arthritic (acute) (chronic) (nonpyogenic) (subacute)
Arthrosis (deformans) (degenerative) (localized)
Osteoarthritis

Coding Notes

The classic M19 error is coding hip or knee OA here — those are M16.- and M17.-. Within M19, capture type (primary/secondary/post-traumatic) plus site and laterality; M19.90 (unspecified) should be a last resort.

Prevalence & Statistics

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, affects over 32.5 million US adults. (CDC - Osteoarthritis (archived CDC Arthritis page), 2023)