C44.201 — Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal
Is C44.201 billable?
Yes, but C44.201 is an unspecified code. C44.201 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, C44.201 is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting C44.201 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
C44.201 at a glance
| Code | C44.201 |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does C44.201 group to?
C44.201 sits in MDC 09 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 606Minor Skin Disorders with MCCmedical
- 607Minor Skin Disorders without MCCmedical
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from C44
The conditions below can never be reported together with C44.201 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from C44.2
The conditions below can never be reported together with C44.201 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- connective tissue of ear (C49.0)
How long has C44.201 existed?
C44.201 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.