ICD-10-CM M54.5 is the diagnosis code for Low back pain. This code falls under the section "Other dorsopathies" within Chapter 13 — Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99). It is a non-billable/non-specific ICD-10-CM code that should not be used for reimbursement. A more specific sub-code is required for billing. Medical coders and healthcare providers use this code to document and classify diagnoses in electronic health records, insurance claims, and clinical databases.
The following conditions should never be coded at the same time as M54.5. They are mutually exclusive:
Understanding where M54.5 sits in the ICD-10-CM classification helps ensure proper coding:
No, M54.5 is a non-billable/non-specific code. You should use a more specific sub-code for billing and reimbursement.
M54.5 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for "Low back pain". It is used by healthcare providers to classify and document this condition in medical records and insurance claims.
The parent code of M54.5 is M54 ("Dorsalgia"). M54.5 provides a more specific classification within this category.
M54.5 is located in Section M50-M54 — "Other dorsopathies" within Chapter 13 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.
M54.5 has 3 sub-code(s) that provide more specific detail: M54.50, M54.51, M54.59.
Use M54.5 when the patients documented diagnosis matches "Low back pain" and the clinical documentation supports this level of specificity. Always verify with the latest ICD-10-CM guidelines and payer requirements.
The ICD-10-CM code for Low back pain is M54.5.
No, M54.5 is non-billable. Use a more specific sub-code for primary diagnosis billing.
M54.5 is in Chapter 13 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.
Type 1 Excludes for M54.5 include: intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbar region with discogenic back pain only (M51.360); intervertebral disc degeneration, lumbosacral region with discogenic back pain only (M51.370); low back strain (S39.012) and more.
Yes, M54.5 is a valid ICD-10-CM code for the 2026 fiscal year, subject to official CMS updates.