2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C44.81Basal cell carcinoma of overlapping sites of skin
ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C43-C44›C44
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
C44.81 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for basal cell carcinoma of overlapping sites of skin. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 606 through 607. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Skin cancers - basal cell carcinoma.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Table of NeoplasmsClinical
Anatomical sites in the Table of Neoplasms that reference this code family.
| Site | Malig. Primary | Malig. Secondary | Ca in situ | Benign | Uncertain | Unspec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| skin NOS › overlapping lesion › basal cell carcinoma | C44.81 | – | – | – | – | – |
| skin NOS › specified sites NEC › basal cell carcinoma | C44.81 | – | – | – | – | – |
Patient EducationClinical
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. Another type of skin cancer, melanoma, is more dangerous but less common.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert C44.81 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About C44.81Overview
Is C44.81 a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report basal cell carcinoma of overlapping sites of skin on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does C44.81 group to?
When basal cell carcinoma of overlapping sites of skin is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 606, 607, with relative weights from 0.9064 to 1.5132 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of C44.81?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, basal cell carcinoma of overlapping sites of skin converts to ICD-9-CM 173.81 (bsl cell ca skn site NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
Footnotes
[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.
