R49.21 — Hypernasality
Is R49.21 billable?
Yes — R49.21 is billable for FY2027. R49.21 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code at the highest level of specificity in its branch. R49.21 may be submitted for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
R49.21 at a glance
| Code | R49.21 |
|---|---|
| Description | Hypernasality |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does R49.21 group to?
R49.21 sits in MDC 03 and helps define the logic of 3 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 154Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with MCCmedical
- 155Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with CCmedical
- 156Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses without CC/MCCmedical
How is R49.21 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to R49.21. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Hypernasality
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from R49
The conditions below can never be reported together with R49.21 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- psychogenic voice and resonance disorders (F44.4)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 18
The conditions below are not part of R49.21, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, R49.21 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has R49.21 existed?
R49.21 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.