ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code
L03.211Cellulitis of face
L03.211 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for cellulitis of face. 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 L03.211
L03.211 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for cellulitis of face. 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 L03.21 (cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of face), L03.211 is specifically for cellulitis of face. Related codes cover acute lymphangitis of face (L03.212) and Periorbital cellulitis (L03.213).
The conditions in its Excludes2 note aren't part of L03.211, but may be coded alongside it if the patient has both: abscess of orbit (H05.01-), cellulitis of ear (H60.1-), cellulitis of eyelid (H00.0-), cellulitis of head (L03.81) and 6 more.
As a secondary diagnosis it is a CC (complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the "with CC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 011 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with MCC, relative weight 5.6154), DRG 012 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with CC, relative weight 4.381), DRG 013 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy without CC/MCC, relative weight 2.7307), 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) and 4 more, in Pre-MDC, MDC 09 (Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast) and MDC 15 (Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period), 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 682.0 (cellulitis and abscess of face).
Coding notes
Notes that apply from higher levels
Instructions written at a parent level also apply to L03.211.
› From L03 Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis
- 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.
Alphabetic index entries
4 entriesTerms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to L03.211.
- Cellulitis (diffuse) (phlegmonous) (septic) (suppurative) › cheek (external)
- Cellulitis (diffuse) (phlegmonous) (septic) (suppurative) › face NEC
- Cellulitis (diffuse) (phlegmonous) (septic) (suppurative) › head NEC › face (any part, except ear, eye and nose)
- Cellulitis (diffuse) (phlegmonous) (septic) (suppurative) › jaw (region)
Codes whose notes reference L03.211
- L03.811Excludes2
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 PRE · Pre-MDC
MDC 09 · Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast
MDC 09 · Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast
MDC 15 · Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period
MDC 15 · Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Converter →- 682.0Cellulitis and abscess of faceapproximate
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 L03.211
Is L03.211 billable?
- Yes. L03.211 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can L03.211 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict L03.211 as a principal diagnosis.
Is L03.211 a CC or MCC?
- L03.211 is a CC (complication or comorbidity) under MS-DRG v44.0, unless excluded by the principal diagnosis.
What DRG does L03.211 group to?
- L03.211 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 011 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with MCC), MS-DRG 012 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with CC), MS-DRG 013 (Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy without CC/MCC), 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) and 4 more. 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 L03.211?
- The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map L03.211 to ICD-9-CM 682.0.