H44.119 ICD-10-CM Code: Panuveitis, unspecified eye

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for H44.119 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Notes without a marker are published on H44.119 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for H44.119

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code H44.119

1. Unspecified does not mean incorrect. When the record gives no greater specificity, H44.119 may be the appropriate code. Check the record for detail that supports a more specific sibling. An unspecified code is for records that do not provide the detail a more specific code needs; a query, not an assumption, is the route to specificity (Guidelines I.A.9.b, I.B.18).

   ReviewH44.111, H44.112, H44.113

   See the relationships section · Guide: Other vs unspecified (NEC vs NOS) →

2. Laterality is coded in this family. Confirm the side documented — right, left, or bilateral — and select the matching code (this page’s code: unspecified). The unspecified-side code applies only when the record states no side. Laterality is assigned from the documented side; where a bilateral code exists and both sides are documented, it is used instead of two unilateral codes (Guidelines I.B.13).

   ReviewH44.111 · right, H44.112 · left

   Guide: Laterality coding →

3. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with H44.119. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

   See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

1. Does the record document the detail a more specific sibling code needs?
   Yes → Review the specific siblings in this subcategory.
   No → Continue — H44.119 is appropriate when the documentation goes no further.

   ReviewH44.111, H44.112, H44.113

2. Does the documentation support a condition named in H44.119’s Excludes1 note?
   Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
   No → Continue.

   ReviewH59.4

3. Is the side documented?
   Yes → Select the code for the documented side (or the bilateral code when both sides are documented and one exists).
   No → Use the unspecified-side code only when the record states no side; a query is the alternative.

   ReviewH44.111 · right, H44.112 · left

Consider H44.119. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Laterality

Right, left or bilateral as documented; unspecified only when the record states no side (Guidelines I.B.13).

Any detail beyond this code’s title

What the record states that a more specific sibling code would capture — or its absence, which itself supports the unspecified code.

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes1 — check before selecting H44.119(1 note)

  Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with H44.119: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

  CompareH59.4

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

• Excludes2 — not part of H44.119(1 note)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in H44.119. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareH16.2

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Don’t confuse H44.119 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of H44.119 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• H59.4— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of bleb associated endophthalmitis moves the case to H59.4; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: H44.119 vs H59.4 →

• H44.111— Laterality relationship (Review)

  Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

  The same condition on the other side; the documented side decides, and a bilateral code, where one exists, replaces the pair when both sides are documented.

  What moves you there: A documented right side moves the case to H44.111.

  Full comparison: H44.119 vs H44.111 →

• H44.112— Laterality relationship (Review)

  Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

  The same condition on the other side; the documented side decides, and a bilateral code, where one exists, replaces the pair when both sides are documented.

  What moves you there: A documented left side moves the case to H44.112.

  Full comparison: H44.119 vs H44.112 →

• H16.2— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of ophthalmia nodosa adds H16.2; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: H44.119 vs H16.2 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Verify Before Coding

• CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name H44.119 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 1 Excludes2 note: H21 — Other disorders of iris and ciliary body (via H44.1.-).

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2026 MS-DRG: CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 8 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 2 MS-DRGs: DRG 124 (MDC 02), DRG 125 (MDC 02).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):EYE004 — Uveitis and ocular inflammation (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical process (MS-DRG)

Acts as CC — raises the severity of other admissions. CMS groups these diagnoses into one MS-DRG principal-diagnosis exclusion process — a CC/MCC on this list never raises severity when the principal diagnosis is also on it.

H44.111 — Panuveitis, right eye, H44.112 — Panuveitis, left eye, H44.113 — Panuveitis, bilateral, H44.131 — Sympathetic uveitis, right eye, H44.132 — Sympathetic uveitis, left eye, H44.133 — Sympathetic uveitis, bilateral, H44.139 — Sympathetic uveitis, unspecified eye

Same condition, opposite side

Same category and title, differing only in which side of the body is affected.

H44.111 — Panuveitis, right eye (right)Compare H44.119 vs H44.111 →, H44.112 — Panuveitis, left eye (left)Compare H44.119 vs H44.112 →

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Uveitis and ocular inflammation).

H44.011 — Panophthalmitis (acute), right eye, H44.012 — Panophthalmitis (acute), left eye, H44.013 — Panophthalmitis (acute), bilateral, H44.019 — Panophthalmitis (acute), unspecified eye, H44.021 — Vitreous abscess (chronic), right eye, H44.022 — Vitreous abscess (chronic), left eye, H44.023 — Vitreous abscess (chronic), bilateral, H44.029 — Vitreous abscess (chronic), unspecified eye, H44.111 — Panuveitis, right eye, H44.112 — Panuveitis, left eye, H44.113 — Panuveitis, bilateral, H44.121 — Parasitic endophthalmitis, unspecified, right eye, H44.122 — Parasitic endophthalmitis, unspecified, left eye, H44.123 — Parasitic endophthalmitis, unspecified, bilateral, H44.129 — Parasitic endophthalmitis, unspecified, unspecified eye, H44.131 — Sympathetic uveitis, right eye, H44.132 — Sympathetic uveitis, left eye, H44.133 — Sympathetic uveitis, bilateral, H44.139 — Sympathetic uveitis, unspecified eye, H44.19 — Other endophthalmitis, +138 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of H44.119 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run H44.119 with this related code in Claim Check

Hierarchy

• H00-H59 — Chapter 7: Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa (H00-H59) (H00-H59)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H43-H44 — Disorders of vitreous body and globe[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

• H21 — Other disorders of iris and ciliary body[Excludes2](via H44.1.-): “sympathetic uveitis (H44.1-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

• EYE004 — Uveitis and ocular inflammation[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)

MS-DRG Grouper

• CC — Complication or Comorbidity [MS-DRG severity]: “As a secondary diagnosis this code can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier (CC).”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix C) · FY2026
• DRG 124 — OTHER DISORDERS OF THE EYE WITH MCC OR THROMBOLYTIC AGENT[MS-DRG]: “OTHER DISORDERS OF THE EYE WITH MCC OR THROMBOLYTIC AGENT (MDC 02)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 125 — OTHER DISORDERS OF THE EYE WITHOUT MCC[MS-DRG]: “OTHER DISORDERS OF THE EYE WITHOUT MCC (MDC 02)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026

MDC crossing

• MDC 02 — Diseases and Disorders of the Eye[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Eye — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 1,200 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Nearest codes (40)

• H44 — Disorders of globe[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.00 — Unspecified purulent endophthalmitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.001 — Unspecified purulent endophthalmitis, right eye[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.002 — Unspecified purulent endophthalmitis, left eye[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.003 — Unspecified purulent endophthalmitis, bilateral[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.009 — Unspecified purulent endophthalmitis, unspecified eye[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.01 — Panophthalmitis (acute)[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• H44.011 — Panophthalmitis (acute), right eye[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 32 more

Change history

• FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data

CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Inpatient payment groups Official source data

CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v43 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data

CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship

Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears

Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation

Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to H44.119 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• H44.1 — Other endophthalmitis
• H44.11 — Panuveitis
• H44.111 — Panuveitis, right eye
• H44.112 — Panuveitis, left eye
• H44.113 — Panuveitis, bilateral
• H44.12 — Parasitic endophthalmitis, unspecified
• H44.121 — Parasitic endophthalmitis, unspecified, right eye
• H44.122 — Parasitic endophthalmitis, unspecified, left eye
• H44.123 — Parasitic endophthalmitis, unspecified, bilateral
• H44.129 — Parasitic endophthalmitis, unspecified, unspecified eye

View all codes in the H44 family