October 1 update. Our PDGM and ICD-10 tools now use the FY2027 code set: 190 codes added, 30 deleted, and no existing code changed clinical group.

See what changed

ICD-10 · PDGM grouping

C15 Malignant neoplasm of esophagus

All 5 codes in the C15 family, with the PDGM clinical group, comorbidity subgroup and primary-position rule CMS assigns, read from the CMS grouper crosswalk v07.2.26 and the CDC FY2027 code file.

ICD-10-CM FY2027 · CMS grouper v07.2.26

Codes in family

5

Can lead a claim

5

Cannot lead a claim

0

What CMS assigns to C15

All 5 codes group to MMTA - Infectious Disease, Neoplasms, and Blood-Forming Diseases. All 5 count toward the Malignant neoplasm of Digestive Organs, includes Gastrointestinal Cancers comorbidity subgroup. Every code can lead a claim.

  • Malignant neoplasm of Digestive Organs, includes Gastrointestinal Cancers: can award the low comorbidity tier as a secondary diagnosis.

Every code in C15

Descriptions are CDC’s FY2027 wording; where CMS’s grouper abbreviates one, its form is shown beneath.

CodeDescriptionPrimary positionClinical groupComorbidity subgroup
C15.3Malignant neoplasm of upper third of esophagusCan lead a claimKMalignant neoplasm of Digestive Organs, includes Gastrointestinal Cancers
C15.4Malignant neoplasm of middle third of esophagusCan lead a claimKMalignant neoplasm of Digestive Organs, includes Gastrointestinal Cancers
C15.5Malignant neoplasm of lower third of esophagusCan lead a claimKMalignant neoplasm of Digestive Organs, includes Gastrointestinal Cancers
C15.8Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of esophagusCan lead a claimKMalignant neoplasm of Digestive Organs, includes Gastrointestinal Cancers
C15.9Malignant neoplasm of esophagus, unspecifiedCan lead a claimKMalignant neoplasm of Digestive Organs, includes Gastrointestinal Cancers

Sources: CMS HH PPS Grouper Software v07.2.26, effective 2026-10-01, for the clinical group, comorbidity subgroup, code-first conventions and primary-position flags; CDC NCHS ICD-10-CM FY2027 code descriptions for the family title and code wording. This is the crosswalk Medicare runs a claim through. Grouping also depends on admission source, timing, the OASIS functional items and the rest of the diagnosis list.

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