ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code
K44.9Diaphragmatic hernia without obstruction or gangrene
K44.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for diaphragmatic hernia without obstruction or gangrene. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.
Looking up by condition? See ICD-10 code for Hiatal hernia.
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 K44.9
K44.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for diaphragmatic hernia without obstruction or gangrene. It belongs to category K44 (diaphragmatic hernia), block K40-K46 (hernia) and chapter 11 (diseases of the digestive system). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Within K44, choose K44.9 (without obstruction or gangrene) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: with obstruction, without gangrene (K44.0) and with gangrene (K44.1).
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 391 (Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive Disorders with MCC, relative weight 1.2392) and DRG 392 (Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive Disorders without MCC, relative weight 0.7645), in MDC 06 (Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System), 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 553.3 (diaphragmatic hernia without mention of obstruction or gangrene).
Coding notes
- Diaphragmatic hernia NOS
Notes that apply from higher levels
Instructions written at a parent level also apply to K44.9.
› From K44 Diaphragmatic hernia
Broader instructions also apply from K40-K46 Hernia and Chapter 11: Diseases of the digestive system.
Alphabetic index entries
2 entriesTerms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to K44.9.
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 06 · Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Converter →- 553.3Diaphragmatic hernia without mention of obstruction or gangreneexact
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 K44.9
Is K44.9 billable?
- Yes. K44.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can K44.9 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict K44.9 as a principal diagnosis.
Is K44.9 a CC or MCC?
- No. K44.9 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.
What DRG does K44.9 group to?
- K44.9 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 391 (Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive Disorders with MCC) and MS-DRG 392 (Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive Disorders without 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 K44.9?
- The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map K44.9 to ICD-9-CM 553.3.