M54.9: Dorsalgia, unspecified
M54.9, dorsalgia, unspecified, is listed as a covered diagnosis in 6 Medicare billing and coding articles that apply to 13 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 4 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 M54.9 as a covered diagnosis
| Code | Description | Medicare coverage | DMEPOS fee 2026 (state range) | Articles listing it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G0480 | Drug 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 performed | Carrier judgment | — | 3 |
| G0483 | Drug 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 performed | Carrier judgment | — | 3 |
| G0482 | Drug 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 performed | Carrier judgment | — | 3 |
| G0481 | Drug 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 performed | Carrier judgment | — | 3 |
| G0659 | Drug 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 classes | Carrier judgment | — | 3 |
| G0283 | Electrical stimulation (unattended), to one or more areas for indication(s) other than wound care, as part of a therapy plan of care | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G2010 | Remote evaluation of recorded video and/or images submitted by an established patient (e.g., store and forward), including interpretation with follow-up with the patient within 24 business hours, not originating from a related e/m service provided within the previous 7 days nor leading to an e/m service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G2250 | Remote assessment of recorded video and/or images submitted by an established patient (e.g., store and forward), including interpretation with follow-up with the patient within 24 business hours, not originating from a related service provided within the previous 7 days nor leading to a service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G0281 | Electrical 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 care | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G2251 | Brief communication technology-based service, e.g. virtual check-in, by a qualified health care professional who cannot report evaluation and management services, provided to an established patient, not originating from a related service provided within the previous 7 days nor leading to a service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment; 5-10 minutes of clinical discussion | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G0151 | Services performed by a qualified physical therapist in the home health or hospice setting, each 15 minutes | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G0329 | Electromagnetic 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 care | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G0255 | Current perception threshold/sensory nerve conduction test, (snct) per limb, any nerve | Non-covered by Medicare | Not covered | 2 |
Medicare policy articles listing M54.9
- A55001: Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing (Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34645, L35724, L36029, L36668
- A59416: Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing (Wellpoint Federal (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34645, L35724, L36029, L36668
- A56818: Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing (CGS Administrators, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34645, L35724, L36029, L36668
- A57668: Billing and Coding: Nerve Conduction Studies and Electromyography (Wellpoint Federal (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 1 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34594, L34859, L35048, L35081
- A56619: Billing and Coding: Nerve Conduction Studies and Electromyography (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 1 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34594, L34859, L35048, L35081
- A57311: Billing and Coding: Physical Therapy - Home Health (CGS Administrators, LLC (HHH MAC); 7 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L33942
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)
- M54.03 — Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, cervicothoracic…
- M54.04 — Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, thoracic region
- M54.05 — Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, thoracolumbar region
- M54.06 — Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, lumbar region
- M54.07 — Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, lumbosacral region
- M54.08 — Panniculitis affecting regions of neck and back, sacral and…
- M54.09 — Panniculitis affecting regions, neck and back, multiple sites in spine
- M54.10 — Radiculopathy, site unspecified
- M54.11 — Radiculopathy, occipito-atlanto-axial region
- M54.12 — Radiculopathy, cervical region
- M54.13 — Radiculopathy, cervicothoracic region
- M54.14 — Radiculopathy, thoracic region
- M54.15 — Radiculopathy, thoracolumbar region
- M54.16 — Radiculopathy, lumbar region
- M54.17 — Radiculopathy, lumbosacral region
- M54.18 — Radiculopathy, sacral and sacrococcygeal region
- M54.2 — Cervicalgia
- M54.31 — Sciatica, right side
- M54.32 — Sciatica, left side
- M54.41 — Lumbago with sciatica, right side
- M54.42 — Lumbago with sciatica, left side
- M54.50 — Low back pain, unspecified
- M54.51 — Vertebrogenic low back pain
- M54.59 — Other low back pain
- M54.6 — Pain in thoracic spine
- M54.89 — Other dorsalgia
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover M54.9 (Dorsalgia, unspecified)?
Medicare covers items and services, not diagnoses. 6 Medicare billing and coding articles list M54.9 as a covered diagnosis for 13 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 M54.9?
The Level II codes from the policies most specific to this diagnosis are G0480 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 3 articles); G0483 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 3 articles); G0482 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 3 articles); G0481 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 3 articles); G0659 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug identification…, 3 articles). Code choice depends on the item supplied; check each code's descriptor.
Which Medicare policy articles list M54.9?
A55001 (Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing); A59416 (Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing); A56818 (Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing), and 3 more articles.
What is ICD-10-CM code M54.9?
M54.9 is the ICD-10-CM code for dorsalgia, unspecified, in category M54 (Dorsalgia), chapter 13: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue.
Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under G0480
- Watch G0480 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for G0480
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