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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

L03.021Acute lymphangitis of right finger

✓ Billable / specific

L03.021 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for acute lymphangitis of right finger. 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 L03.021

L03.021 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acute lymphangitis of right finger. It belongs to category L03 (cellulitis and acute lymphangitis), block L00-L08 (infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue) and chapter 12 (diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within L03.02 (acute lymphangitis of finger), L03.021 is specifically for acute lymphangitis of right finger. Related codes cover left finger (L03.022) and unspecified finger (L03.029).

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 573 (Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with MCC, relative weight 6.3575), DRG 574 (Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with CC, relative weight 3.5674), DRG 575 (Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis without CC/MCC, relative weight 1.8797), DRG 602 (Cellulitis with MCC, relative weight 1.4273) and DRG 603 (Cellulitis without MCC, relative weight 0.8635), in MDC 09 (Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast), 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 681.00 (cellulitis and abscess of finger, unspecified).

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to L03.021.

› From L03 Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis
Excludes2
  • cellulitis of anal and rectal region (K61.-)
  • cellulitis of external auditory canal (H60.1)
  • cellulitis of eyelid (H00.0)
  • cellulitis of female external genital organs (N76.4)
  • cellulitis of lacrimal apparatus (H04.3)
  • cellulitis of male external genital organs (N48.2, N49.-)
  • cellulitis of mouth (K12.2)
  • cellulitis of nose (J34.0)
  • eosinophilic cellulitis [Wells] (L98.3)
  • febrile neutrophilic dermatosis [Sweet] (L98.2)
  • lymphangitis (chronic) (subacute) (I89.1)

Broader instructions also apply from L00-L08 Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue and Chapter 12: Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue.

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 09 · Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast

ICD-9-CM equivalent

Converter →
  • 681.00Cellulitis and abscess of finger, unspecifiedapproximate

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 L03.021

Is L03.021 billable?

Yes. L03.021 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can L03.021 be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict L03.021 as a principal diagnosis.

Is L03.021 a CC or MCC?

No. L03.021 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.

What DRG does L03.021 group to?

L03.021 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 573 (Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with MCC), MS-DRG 574 (Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with CC), MS-DRG 575 (Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis without CC/MCC), MS-DRG 602 (Cellulitis with MCC) and MS-DRG 603 (Cellulitis 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 L03.021?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map L03.021 to ICD-9-CM 681.00.