Skip to content
Dx

ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

H61.021Chronic perichondritis of right external ear

✓ Billable / specific

H61.021 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for chronic perichondritis of right external ear. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About H61.021

H61.021 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for chronic perichondritis of right external ear. It belongs to category H61 (other disorders of external ear), block H60-H62 (diseases of external ear) and chapter 8 (diseases of the ear and mastoid process). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within H61.02 (chronic perichondritis of external ear), H61.021 is specifically for chronic perichondritis of right external ear. Related codes cover left external ear (H61.022), bilateral (H61.023) and unspecified ear (H61.029).

It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 564 (Other Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue Diagnoses with MCC, relative weight 1.4908), DRG 565 (Other Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue Diagnoses with CC, relative weight 0.9783) and DRG 566 (Other Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue Diagnoses without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.7378), in MDC 08 (Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 380.02 (chronic perichondritis of pinna).

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to H61.021.

Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 8: Diseases of the ear and mastoid process.

MS-DRG v44.0 grouping

All DRGs →

Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.

ICD-9-CM equivalent

Converter →
  • 380.02Chronic perichondritis of pinnaapproximate

From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about H61.021

Is H61.021 billable?

Yes. H61.021 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can H61.021 be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict H61.021 as a principal diagnosis.

Is H61.021 a CC or MCC?

No. H61.021 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.

What DRG does H61.021 group to?

H61.021 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 564 (Other Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue Diagnoses with MCC), MS-DRG 565 (Other Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue Diagnoses with CC) and MS-DRG 566 (Other Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue Diagnoses without CC/MCC). Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.

What is the ICD-9 code for H61.021?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map H61.021 to ICD-9-CM 380.02.