2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H61.019Acute perichondritis of external ear, unspecified ear
ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H60-H62›H61
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
H61.019 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acute perichondritis of external ear, unspecified ear. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 564 through 566. Coders also document this condition as acute perichondritis of pinna. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified and unspecified disorders of the ear.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Acute perichondritis of pinna
- Perichondritis of pinna
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
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.
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Convert H61.019 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About H61.019Overview
Is H61.019 (Acute perichondritis of external ear) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report acute perichondritis of external ear, unspecified ear on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does H61.019 group to?
When acute perichondritis of external ear, unspecified ear is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 564, 565, 566, with relative weights from 0.7493 to 1.5436 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H61.019?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, acute perichondritis of external ear, unspecified ear converts to ICD-9-CM 380.01 (ac perichondritis pinna). 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.
