2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H61.003Unspecified perichondritis of external ear, bilateral

ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H60-H62›H61

ICD-10-CM H61.003
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H61.003 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified perichondritis of external ear, bilateral. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 152 through 153. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified and unspecified disorders of the ear.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H61.003
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Unspecified perichondritis of external ear, bilateral
Short Description
Unspecified perichondritis of external ear, bilateral
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H61.00
Unspecified perichondritis of external ear

Code Classification

ChapterH60–H95Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
SectionH60-H62Diseases of external ear
CategoryH61Other disorders of external ear
This CodeH61.003Unspecified perichondritis of external ear, bilateral

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Bilateral ears chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis
  • Bilateral external ears chondritis
  • Bilateral perichondritis of external ears
  • Chondritis of left external ear
  • Chondritis of right external ear
  • Chondrodermatitis nodularis
  • Chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis
  • Chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis of left ear
  • Chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis of right ear
  • Perichondritis of left external ear
  • Perichondritis of pinna
  • Perichondritis of right external ear

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR EAR006
Other specified and unspecified disorders of the ear
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Ear Disorders

Your ear has three main parts: outer, middle and inner. You use all of them in hearing. Sound waves come in through your outer ear. They reach your middle ear, where they make your eardrum vibrate. The vibrations are transmitted through three tiny bones, called ossicles, in your middle ear.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert H61.003 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
380.00 Perichondritis pinna NOS
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About H61.003Overview

Is H61.003 (Unspecified perichondritis of external ear) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified perichondritis of external ear, bilateral on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does H61.003 group to?

When unspecified perichondritis of external ear, bilateral is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 152, 153, with relative weights from 0.7382 to 1.1822 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H61.003?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified perichondritis of external ear, bilateral converts to ICD-9-CM 380.00 (perichondritis pinna NOS). 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.