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MDC 21: Assignment of Diagnosis Codes

20 MS-DRGs (9 surgical, 11 medical) with FY2027 relative weights averaging 1.7539. Click any DRG for its weight history, CC/MCC family, grouper code lists and denial exposure.

Reviewed by QuickIntell RCM Editorial Team · Last reviewed

Data effective

MS-DRGs in MDC 21

Weights in this category range from 0.6720 (DRG 921) to 4.4740 (DRG 901); the change column compares FY2027 with FY2026.

MS-DRGs assigned to MDC 21 with FY2027 weights
DRGTitleTypeWeightGMLOSChange
901Wound Debridements for Injuries with MCCSurgical4.47409.5+6.6%
902Wound Debridements for Injuries with CCSurgical1.89404.5-1.1%
903Wound Debridements for Injuries without CC/MCCSurgical1.12402.4-3.9%
904Skin Grafts for Injuries with CC/MCCSurgical3.70906.6+1.0%
905Skin Grafts for Injuries without CC/MCCSurgical1.55402.9+4.8%
906Hand Procedures for InjuriesSurgical1.76802.9-10.0%
907Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with MCCSurgical3.89606.6+1.5%
908Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with CCSurgical1.95803.5-1.9%
909Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries without CC/MCCSurgical1.38102.2+5.2%
913Traumatic Injury with MCCMedical1.54503.7-5.5%
914Traumatic Injury without MCCMedical0.92802.5+4.9%
915Allergic Reactions with MCCMedical1.65603.4-1.6%
916Allergic Reactions without MCCMedical0.69301.8+4.1%
917Poisoning and Toxic Effects of Drugs with MCCMedical1.57003.7+0.1%
918Poisoning and Toxic Effects of Drugs without MCCMedical0.87202.4+1.8%
919Complications of Treatment with MCCMedical1.76204.1-3.8%
920Complications of Treatment with CCMedical0.99802.8-0.4%
921Complications of Treatment without CC/MCCMedical0.67202.0-2.3%
922Other Injury, Poisoning and Toxic Effect Diagnoses with MCCMedical1.62503.9-7.1%
923Other Injury, Poisoning and Toxic Effect Diagnoses without MCCMedical0.99802.9-2.0%

How to read this table

The relative weight is the payment multiplier CMS applies to a hospital's wage-adjusted standardized amount; a weight of 2.0 pays roughly twice an average inpatient case before outliers and add-ons. Geometric mean length of stay is the figure used in post-acute transfer calculations, so stays shorter than it in a transfer DRG are paid per diem. The change column compares the FY2027 final weight with FY2026; moves larger than two percent usually come from code reassignments in the final rule's Table 6 series or from updated cost data, and are worth re-checking in contract models and budgets before October 1. Surgical DRGs require a qualifying operating-room procedure; medical DRGs are reached when no such procedure is coded.

Frequently asked questions

How many MS-DRGs are in MDC 21?

20 MS-DRGs are assigned to MDC 21 (Assignment of Diagnosis Codes) in the FY2027 v44 grouper: 9 surgical and 11 medical.

Which MDC 21 DRG has the highest weight?

DRG 901, Wound Debridements for Injuries with MCC, carries the highest FY2027 relative weight in this category at 4.4740; the lowest is DRG 921 at 0.6720.

How is a stay assigned to this MDC?

The grouper maps the principal diagnosis to MDC 21, then checks for a qualifying operating-room procedure to choose between the surgical and medical DRG partitions, and finally applies CC/MCC severity splits.

Sources

Every figure on this page is taken from the CMS publications below, as released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Projection built 2026-10-01. Verify against the primary file before billing or contracting decisions.

Disclaimer

Operational reference compiled from CMS publications. Relative weights are national factors; actual payment depends on hospital-specific rates and adjustments. Not legal, clinical or billing advice.