M75.30

Calcium phosphate crystal deposition within one or more rotator cuff tendons of a shoulder when the treating clinician has not specified whether the affected side is right or left.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 6 sources ↓

Status: Billable
Chapter: 13
Related CPT: 10
Region: Shoulder

Drawn from CDCNIHCMSOrthoInfoICD10Data

Documentation tips

What should appear in the chart to support M75.30.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 6 cited references ↓

Always document laterality by name — 'right' or 'left' — in the assessment or problem list so the coder can select M75.31 or M75.32 instead of M75.30.
Reference the imaging modality and key finding (e.g., 'X-ray confirms calcific deposit in supraspinatus tendon, right shoulder') to establish medical necessity for any procedure.
When concurrent impingement syndrome is present, code M75.4x separately if it is independently evaluated and managed — don't absorb it into the calcific tendinitis code.
If the subacromial or subdeltoid bursa is also calcified, the inclusion term 'calcified bursa of shoulder' under M75.3 means a separate bursitis code (M75.5x) is not required; document which structure(s) are involved.
Record the phase of disease (acute resorptive vs. chronic formative) and any failed conservative treatments (NSAIDs, PT, corticosteroid injections) when surgical or needle-lavage intervention is being authorized.

Related CPT procedures

Procedure codes commonly billed with M75.30. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.

Source · CMS LCDs · AAOS specialty guidance · claims-pattern analysis

23000 $571.49

Open surgical removal of calcium deposits located beneath the deltoid muscle in the shoulder (subdeltoid region).

23020 $650.65

Open surgical release of a contracted shoulder joint capsule to restore glenohumeral range of motion, typically performed for adhesive capsulitis or post-traumatic stiffness.

29824 $638.96

Arthroscopic resection of the distal clavicle including its articular surface, performed at the acromioclavicular joint (the Mumford procedure).

29827 $976.31

Arthroscopic surgical repair of the rotator cuff, performed entirely through the shoulder joint via endoscopic technique.

20610 $68.81

Aspiration and/or injection of a major joint or bursa (shoulder, hip, knee, or subacromial bursa) performed without ultrasound guidance.

73030 $35.74

Radiologic examination of the shoulder requiring a minimum of two views, reported as a single unit regardless of how many views are obtained.

97110 $29.06

Therapeutic exercise billed per 15-minute unit, targeting strength, endurance, range of motion, or flexibility with direct one-on-one patient contact.

76881 View procedure details

97530 View procedure details

97012 View procedure details

Common coding pitfalls

The recurring mistakes coders make with M75.30 and adjacent codes.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CDC ICD-10-CM tabular guidance, AAOS coding references, and cited references ↓

Submitting M75.30 when the operative or imaging report clearly names a side — always upgrade to M75.31 (right) or M75.32 (left) when laterality is documented anywhere in the record.
Coding M75.30 alongside M75.50 (bursitis of unspecified shoulder) when the only pathology is a calcified bursa — the inclusion term under M75.3 already covers calcified bursa, making the separate bursitis code redundant and potentially flagging duplicate diagnosis.
Confusing calcific tendinitis with non-calcific rotator cuff tendinopathy; the former requires imaging-confirmed calcium deposits — if imaging is absent, the correct code may be M75.101 (unspecified rotator cuff tear/rupture) or M75.80 (other shoulder lesion), not M75.30.
Using M75.30 on home health physical therapy claims where the CMS LCD A57311 only lists the laterality-specific codes M75.31 and M75.32 as supporting medical necessity.

Clinical context

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 6 cited references ↓

M75.30 is the fallback code when calcific tendinitis of the shoulder is confirmed but laterality is absent from the documentation. The parent category M75.3 also includes calcified bursa of the shoulder as an inclusion term, so a calcified subacromial bursa without a named tendon involvement maps here as well. Use M75.31 for the right shoulder and M75.32 for the left; M75.30 should only be submitted when the record genuinely fails to name a side — not as a shortcut.

The supraspinatus tendon is the most common site, with calcium deposits typically forming 1.5–2 cm proximal to the greater tuberosity insertion (PMC7726362). Imaging — X-ray or ultrasound — typically confirms the calcific deposit and should be referenced in the clinical note to support medical necessity for injections, physical therapy, or surgical intervention.

Note that CMS's home health physical therapy LCD (A57311) lists M75.31 and M75.32 as supporting codes but does not list M75.30. If the encounter is for a home health PT benefit, obtain laterality from the physician order or face a medical necessity gap. For outpatient orthopedic billing, M75.30 is billable but payers may query or downgrade reimbursement if the unspecified code appears on repeated claims for the same patient.

Sibling codes

Other billable codes under M75.3 (laterality / anatomic variants).

M75.31

Calcific tendinitis of right shoulder

M75.32

Calcific tendinitis of left shoulder

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 6 cited references ↓

01When is M75.30 acceptable versus M75.31 or M75.32?

M75.30 is appropriate only when no documentation in the entire record — note, imaging report, order, or referral — specifies right or left. If laterality appears anywhere in the encounter documentation, use M75.31 (right) or M75.32 (left).

02Does M75.30 cover a calcified subacromial bursa, or only tendon calcifications?

Both. The ICD-10-CM Tabular List includes 'Calcified bursa of shoulder' as an inclusion term under M75.3, so a calcified subacromial or subdeltoid bursa maps to M75.30/31/32 — a separate M75.5x bursitis code is not needed.

03Can M75.30 and a rotator cuff tear code be reported together?

Yes, if both conditions are separately documented and managed in the same encounter. A calcific deposit in the supraspinatus does not preclude a concurrent partial or complete tear. Code both, sequencing the primary reason for the visit first.

04Will M75.30 support a corticosteroid injection claim (CPT 20610)?

Generally yes for outpatient settings, but verify individual payer policies. Some MACs and commercial payers prefer the laterality-specific code. If the injection is guided by ultrasound, also append 76942.

05Which MS-DRG does M75.30 group into for inpatient stays?

M75.30 groups to MDC 08 (Musculoskeletal System & Connective Tissue) — DRG 557 (Tendonitis, Myositis and Bursitis with MCC) or DRG 558 (without MCC), depending on comorbidities.

06Is M75.30 valid for a home health physical therapy claim under CMS LCD A57311?

No. CMS LCD A57311 lists M75.31 and M75.32 as supporting medical necessity codes but excludes M75.30. Obtain laterality from the certifying physician order before submitting a home health PT claim.

07Does calcific tendinitis of the shoulder require a 7th-character extension?

No. M-codes in ICD-10-CM do not use 7th-character encounter extensions (A/D/S). Those extensions apply to S-codes (injury codes). M75.30 is a complete, billable code as written.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.

Mira AI Scribe

Mira AI Scribe captures the affected shoulder side, the imaging modality confirming calcium deposit location and tendon involved, any prior conservative treatment tried, and the current pain phase — preventing a drop to unspecified M75.30 when laterality is spoken during the encounter and avoiding payer queries or LCD gaps on home health and surgical authorization claims.

See how Mira captures M75.30 documentation