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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

H61.91Disorder of right external ear, unspecified

✓ Billable / specific

H61.91 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for disorder of right external ear, unspecified. 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 H61.91

H61.91 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for disorder of right external ear, unspecified. 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 H61.9, choose H61.91 (right external ear, unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: unspecified ear (H61.90), left external ear, unspecified (H61.92) and bilateral (H61.93).

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 380.11 (acute infection of pinna) and 380.9 (unspecified disorder of external ear).

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to H61.91.

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 →
  • 380.11Acute infection of pinnaapproximate
  • 380.9Unspecified disorder of external earapproximate

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 H61.91

Is H61.91 billable?

Yes. H61.91 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can H61.91 be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict H61.91 as a principal diagnosis.

Is H61.91 a CC or MCC?

No. H61.91 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.

What DRG does H61.91 group to?

H61.91 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 H61.91?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map H61.91 to ICD-9-CM 380.11 and 380.9.