ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code
H61.321Acquired stenosis of right external ear canal secondary to inflammation and infection
H61.321 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for acquired stenosis of right external ear canal secondary to inflammation and infection. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.Short description: Acquired stenosis of r ext ear canal sec to inflam and infct
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 H61.321
H61.321 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acquired stenosis of right external ear canal secondary to inflammation and infection. 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 H61.32 (acquired stenosis of external ear canal secondary to inflammation and infection), H61.321 is specifically for acquired stenosis of right external ear canal secondary to inflammation and infection. Related codes cover left external ear canal secondary to inflammation and infection (H61.322), bilateral (H61.323) and unspecified ear (H61.329).
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 154 (Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with MCC, relative weight 1.5921), DRG 155 (Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with CC, relative weight 0.9322) and DRG 156 (Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.6659), in MDC 03 (Diseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat), 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 380.53 (acquired stenosis of external ear canal secondary to inflammation).
Notes that apply from higher levels
Instructions written at a parent level also apply to H61.321.
› From H61.3 Acquired stenosis of external ear canal
- postprocedural stenosis of external ear canal (H95.81-)
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.
MDC 03 · Diseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Converter →- 380.53Acquired stenosis of external ear canal secondary to inflammationapproximate
From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.
Code history
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
- 2027
- FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
- No changes since FY2016.
Common questions about H61.321
Is H61.321 billable?
- Yes. H61.321 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can H61.321 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict H61.321 as a principal diagnosis.
Is H61.321 a CC or MCC?
- No. H61.321 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.
What DRG does H61.321 group to?
- H61.321 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 154 (Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with MCC), MS-DRG 155 (Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with CC) and MS-DRG 156 (Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat 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 H61.321?
- The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map H61.321 to ICD-9-CM 380.53.