C44.22 ICD-10-CM Code: Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of ear and external auricular canal
C44.22 is not a CMS-HCC payment code. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · free HCC coding tools
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FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin (C43-C44)
C44.22
Header CodeICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceSquamous cell carcinoma of skin of ear and external auricular canal
CMS-HCC V28
N/A—
Not mapped
CMS-HCC V24
N/A—
Not mapped
ACA/HHS
N/A—
Not mapped
ESRD/PACE
N/A—
Not mapped
RXHCC
N/A—
Not mapped
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialNo inclusion terms are included in this display for C44.22. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Excludes 2
OfficialNo Excludes 2 notes are included in this display for C44.22. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Related Codes
Includes
Official- malignant neoplasm of sebaceous glandsInherited from C44
- malignant neoplasm of sweat glandsInherited from C44
Excludes 1
Official- Kaposi's sarcoma of skin (C46.0)Inherited from C44, C44.2
- malignant melanoma of skin (C43.-)Inherited from C44, C44.2
- malignant neoplasm of skin of genital organs (C51-C52, C60.-, C63.2)Inherited from C44, C44.2
- Merkel cell carcinoma (C4A.-)Inherited from C44, C44.2
- connective tissue of ear (C49.0)Inherited from C44, C44.2
Code First
OfficialNo Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for C44.22. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Use Additional
OfficialNo Use Additional Code instructions are included in this display for C44.22. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Code Also
OfficialNo Code Also instructions are included in this display for C44.22. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Current with CMS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr 1 update (effective Apr 1 – Sep 30, 2026) · CMS-HCC V28, 100% phased in for payment year 2026. FY2027 code set already staged for October 1, 2026. How HCC Buddy stays current →
- Code
- C44.22
- Description
- Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of ear and external auricular canal
- HCC (V28)
- No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
- RAF reference coefficient
- —
- Billable
- No
- Payment year
- 2026
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
C44.22 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for squamous cell carcinoma of skin of ear and external auricular canal. C44.22 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin (c43-c44).
Header codes like C44.22 cannot be reported on claims directly; they organize child codes that share clinical context. Coders should select the billable child code that matches the documented presentation and then verify its current source-backed HCC mapping. Do not infer a child code or risk adjustment value from the header alone.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for C44.22 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.