H44.021 is not a CMS-HCC payment code. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC Buddy coding tools

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Code lookupH44.021

Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the eye and adnexa (H00-H59) / Disorders of vitreous body and globe (H43-H44)

H44.021

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Vitreous abscess (chronic), right eye

A chronic collection of pus in the gel-like substance inside the right eye that has persisted over time.

Overview Risk Models Code Book Documentation Audit Notes Edition comparison

CMS-HCC V28

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

CMS-HCC V24

Historical

Not used for standard CY2026 Medicare Advantage payment. Select a historical period to review V24.

Not used for CY2026 payment

ACA/HHS

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

ESRD/PACE

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

RXHCC

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

Code Book Path

Official

H44.0Purulent endophthalmitis H44.02Vitreous abscess (chronic)H44.021Vitreous abscess (chronic), right eye

Inclusion Terms

Official

No inclusion terms are included in this display for H44.021. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Excludes 2

Official

certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)Inherited from H00-H59
certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)Inherited from H00-H59
complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)Inherited from H00-H59
congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)Inherited from H00-H59
diabetes mellitus related eye conditions (E09.3-, E10.3-, E11.3-, E13.3-)Inherited from H00-H59
endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)Inherited from H00-H59
injury (trauma) of eye and orbit (S05.-)Inherited from H00-H59
injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)Inherited from H00-H59
neoplasms (C00-D49)Inherited from H00-H59
symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)Inherited from H00-H59
syphilis related eye disorders (A50.01, A50.3-, A51.43, A52.71)Inherited from H00-H59

Related Codes

Official

H44.022Vitreous abscess (chronic), left eye H44.023Vitreous abscess (chronic), bilateral H44.029Vitreous abscess (chronic), unspecified eye

Includes

Official

disorders affecting multiple structures of eyeInherited from H44

Excludes 1

Official

bleb associated endophthalmitis (H59.4-)Inherited from H44.0

Code First

Official

No Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for H44.021. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Use Additional

Official

code to identify organismInherited from H44.0

Code Also

Official

No Code Also instructions are included in this display for H44.021. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Distinguish between acute and chronic presentations; chronic vitreous abscess indicates a longstanding infection

Document the duration and any prior treatment attempts in the medical record

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 →

Is H44.021 an HCC code?

No. H44.021 is a billable ICD-10-CM code with no mapping under the current CMS-HCC V28 community payment model, and none under the ESRD, Part D RxHCC, or HHS-HCC models.

Code: H44.021
Description: Vitreous abscess (chronic), right eye
HCC (V28): No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
RAF reference coefficient: —
Billable: Yes
Payment year: 2026

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

H44.021 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for vitreous abscess (chronic), right eye. A chronic collection of pus in the gel-like substance inside the right eye that has persisted over time. H44.021 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the eye and adnexa (h00-h59), within the section covering disorders of vitreous body and globe (h43-h44).

H44.021 is a billable ICD-10-CM code, but no current CMS-HCC V28 community payment mapping is shown, and none under the ESRD, Part D RxHCC, or HHS-HCC models. Do not assign risk adjustment value from this page when no source-backed mapping is shown; verify the applicable model and payment year.

Distinguish between acute and chronic presentations; chronic vitreous abscess indicates a longstanding infection.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for H44.021 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•Distinguish between acute and chronic presentations; chronic vitreous abscess indicates a longstanding infection
•Document the duration and any prior treatment attempts in the medical record