M54.18: Radiculopathy, sacral and sacrococcygeal region

M54.18, radiculopathy, sacral and sacrococcygeal region, is listed as a covered diagnosis in 17 Medicare billing and coding articles that apply to 17 HCPCS Level II codes, including G0480 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…), G0483 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…), G0482 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…). The articles come from 7 Medicare contractors. A listed diagnosis supports medical necessity only; coverage still depends on the LCD's criteria and on documentation in the medical record.

HCPCS Level II codes with M54.18 as a covered diagnosis

CodeDescriptionMedicare coverageDMEPOS fee 2026 (state range)Articles listing it
G0480Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 1-7 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performedCarrier judgment—7
G0483Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 22 or more drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performedCarrier judgment—7
G0482Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 15-21 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performedCarrier judgment—7
G0481Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 8-14 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performedCarrier judgment—7
G0659Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem), excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase), performed without method or drug-specific calibration, without matrix-matched quality control material, or without use of stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standard(s) for each drug, drug metabolite or drug class per specimen; qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day, any number of drug classesCarrier judgment—7
G0283Electrical stimulation (unattended), to one or more areas for indication(s) other than wound care, as part of a therapy plan of careCarrier judgment—3
G0453Continuous intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring, from outside the operating room (remote or nearby), per patient, (attention directed exclusively to one patient) each 15 minutes (list in addition to primary procedure)Carrier judgment—1
A9585Injection, gadobutrol, 0.1 mlCarrier judgment—1
Q9953Injection, iron-based magnetic resonance contrast agent, per mlSpecial coverage instructions apply—1
G0152Services performed by a qualified occupational therapist in the home health or hospice setting, each 15 minutesCarrier judgment—1
G0158Services performed by a qualified occupational therapist assistant in the home health or hospice setting, each 15 minutesCarrier judgment—1
G0160Services performed by a qualified occupational therapist, in the home health setting, in the establishment or delivery of a safe and effective occupational therapy maintenance program, each 15 minutesCarrier judgment—1
G2169Services performed by an occupational therapist assistant in the home health setting in the delivery of a safe and effective occupational therapy maintenance program, each 15 minutesCarrier judgment—1
G0281Electrical stimulation, (unattended), to one or more areas, for chronic stage iii and stage iv pressure ulcers, arterial ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and venous stasis ulcers not demonstrating measurable signs of healing after 30 days of conventional care, as part of a therapy plan of careCarrier judgment—1
G0329Electromagnetic therapy, to one or more areas for chronic stage iii and stage iv pressure ulcers, arterial ulcers, diabetic ulcers and venous stasis ulcers not demonstrating measurable signs of healing after 30 days of conventional care as part of a therapy plan of careCarrier judgment—1
G0255Current perception threshold/sensory nerve conduction test, (snct) per limb, any nerveNon-covered by MedicareNot covered5
G0282Electrical stimulation, (unattended), to one or more areas, for wound care other than described in g0281Non-covered by MedicareNot covered1

Medicare policy articles listing M54.18

2 more articles list M54.18.

A diagnosis listed as covered in a billing and coding article supports medical necessity for the article's codes; it does not guarantee payment. Coverage depends on the LCD's criteria, the contractor's jurisdiction and documentation in the medical record.

Other M54 diagnoses (Dorsalgia)

Frequently asked questions

Does Medicare cover M54.18 (Radiculopathy, sacral and sacrococcygeal region)?

Medicare covers items and services, not diagnoses. 17 Medicare billing and coding articles list M54.18 as a covered diagnosis for 17 HCPCS Level II codes: the diagnosis can support medical necessity for those codes, but payment still depends on the LCD's coverage criteria and the medical record.

Which HCPCS codes can be billed with ICD-10 M54.18?

The Level II codes from the policies most specific to this diagnosis are G0480 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 7 articles); G0483 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 7 articles); G0482 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 7 articles); G0481 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 7 articles); G0659 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug identification…, 7 articles). Code choice depends on the item supplied; check each code's descriptor.

Which Medicare policy articles list M54.18?

A57077 (Billing and Coding: Controlled Substance Monitoring and Drugs of Abuse Testing); A55001 (Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing); A56915 (Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing), and 14 more articles.

What is ICD-10-CM code M54.18?

M54.18 is the ICD-10-CM code for radiculopathy, sacral and sacrococcygeal region, in category M54 (Dorsalgia), chapter 13: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue.

Next steps

Sources: CMS Medicare Coverage Database billing and coding articles (covered ICD-10 code lists and HCPCS links); ICD-10-CM FY2026; CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule 2026 (non-rural state fees). Not billing or legal advice.

Chapter 13: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue · All diagnoses · HCPCS lookup