The annual ICD-10-CM update takes effect October 1, and FY 2027 brings several changes that are particularly relevant to podiatric medicine. Although the overall number of ICD-10-CM changes is substantial, the number of changes directly affecting podiatry is relatively limited.
The most important podiatry-specific changes involve plantar fasciitis, plantar fascial fibromatosis, and osteomyelitis of the ankle and foot. These changes generally move ICD-10-CM toward greater anatomic specificity and, in several instances, laterality.
The Big News for Podiatry: Plantar Fasciitis Finally Gets Its Own Code Family
Perhaps the most significant change for everyday podiatric practice is the creation of a dedicated ICD-10-CM category for plantar fasciitis.
For years, plantar fasciitis and plantar fascial fibromatosis were reported using the same basic code, M72.2, Plantar fascial fibromatosis. That created an obvious clinical and coding problem because these are different disorders.
Beginning October 1, 2026, plantar fasciitis moves to the new M67.A category.
FY 2027 Plantar Fasciitis Codes:
M67.A
Plantar fasciitis
M67.A0
Plantar fasciitis, foot
M67.A01
Plantar fasciitis, right foot
M67.A02
Plantar fasciitis, left foot
M67.A09 Plantar fasciitis, unspecified foot
A podiatrist should now document the affected foot whenever known:
M67.A09 should not be used. Laterality now finally exists for plantar fasciitis after 11 years.
Plantar Fascial Fibromatosis Also Receives Laterality
The other side of the change involves plantar fascial fibromatosis, commonly associated with Ledderhose disease.
The old:
M72.2 — Plantar fascial fibromatosis
is deleted as a billable code structure for FY 2027 and replaced with laterality-specific codes:
M72.20
Plantar fascial fibromatosis, unspecified foot
M72.21
Plantar fascial fibromatosis, right foot
M72.22
Plantar fascial fibromatosis, left foot
Once again, a podiatrist should now document the affected foot whenever known:
M72.20 should not be used. Laterality is important for billing, coding and documentation.
Osteomyelitis: Important Expansion for Ankle and Foot Coding
Another significant FY 2027 change involves other osteomyelitis (M86.8X).
The previous classification used broader anatomic categories. FY 2027 expands these categories to provide right, left, and unspecified laterality.
For podiatrists, the most important change is the expansion of:
M86.8X7 — Other osteomyelitis, ankle and foot
into three billable codes.
M86.8X71
Other osteomyelitis, right ankle and foot
M86.8X72
Other osteomyelitis, left ankle and foot
M86.8X79
Other osteomyelitis, unspecified ankle and foot
Other billable codes related to osteomyelitis include the following:
M86.8X51 Other osteomyelitis, right thigh
M86.8X52 Other osteomyelitis, left thigh
M86.8X61 Other osteomyelitis, right lower leg
M86.8X62 Other osteomyelitis, left lower leg
This is my opinion.
Michael G. Warshaw, DPM, CPC
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