The ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M25.552 is a critical component in medical coding, specifically used to classify and document cases of pain in the left hip. This code is not just a random string of characters; it’s a precise tool within the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) system, essential for healthcare providers, insurance companies, and health information systems in the United States.
M25.552 falls under the category of “Pain in joint,” and more specifically pinpoints the location to the left hip. It is designated as a billable/specific code, meaning it is recognized for reimbursement purposes by insurance providers and is detailed enough for accurate diagnostic reporting. The code officially came into effect on October 1, 2015, with the ICD-10-CM system, and the current version, 2025 ICD-10-CM M25.552, became effective on October 1, 2024. This indicates the code is actively in use and updated annually to maintain its relevance and accuracy in the evolving landscape of medical diagnoses.
Within the broader ICD-10-CM structure, M25.552 is part of a larger group of codes. It sits adjacent to codes for pain in other joints, such as the wrist (M25.53), hand (M25.54), right hip (M25.551), unspecified hip (M25.559), and knee (M25.56). This placement highlights the systematic organization of the ICD-10-CM, allowing for precise categorization of pain based on anatomical location.
Synonyms commonly associated with M25.552 help to clarify its scope. These include:
- Left hip joint pain
- Pain of left hip joint
- Left hip pain
- Bilateral hip joint pain (though bilateral pain would typically require coding for both right and left hips if both are independently diagnosed and relevant)
These synonyms are crucial for healthcare professionals when selecting the most appropriate code. They ensure that despite slight variations in terminology used in patient records, the underlying diagnosis of pain in the left hip is accurately captured by M25.552.
Furthermore, M25.552 is linked to Diagnostic Related Groups (MS-DRG v42.0). DRGs are a system to classify hospital cases into one of several groups, expected to have similar hospital resource use. This connection signifies the code’s importance in the healthcare management and billing process, influencing how hospitals are reimbursed for services related to diagnosing and treating left hip pain.
The code history of M25.552 is straightforward, remaining unchanged since its introduction in 2016. This stability is typical for well-established codes within the ICD-10-CM system, indicating that the classification of “pain in left hip” as M25.552 has been consistently recognized and utilized without the need for revisions over the years.
In summary, diagnosis code M25.552 is a vital tool for accurately documenting and classifying pain in the left hip within the ICD-10-CM system. Its specificity, billability, and clear placement within the diagnostic coding framework make it indispensable for healthcare providers, coders, and insurance processes in the United States. Understanding M25.552 is essential for anyone involved in medical documentation, billing, or health information management related to musculoskeletal conditions.
