Cellulitis without MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

DRG 603 encompasses inpatient admissions for cellulitis without Major Complication or Comorbidity and is used to group cases of skin and soft tissue infection managed without higher-severity secondary diagnoses. It matters for inpatient reimbursement because assignment to DRG 603 determines the Medicare prospective payment and reflects resource intensity for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services billing.

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DRG 603 Overview

DRG 603 covers hospital admissions for cellulitis without Major Complication or Comorbidity and represents cases where the infection is managed medically without higher-severity secondary diagnoses. This Diagnosis-Related Group is focused on skin and soft tissue infection treatment, often involving intravenous antibiotics and observation for systemic signs. It matters for Medicare payment because the assigned Diagnosis-Related Group determines the inpatient prospective payment and influences resource use classification for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services billing. Accurate capture of clinical complexity affects grouping into DRG 603 versus higher-paying Diagnosis-Related Groups.

National Payment Rates

Across payers the observed rate range runs from about $370 up to $31K, with the widest spread between the minimum and maximum being roughly $31K as shown in the table and chart below. Among named payers, Aetna and Anthem report higher medians (around $16K and $13K respectively) while BCBS shows a lower median near $8K; Cigna and other payers fall in between. Refer to the payer table and distribution chart below for payer-specific quartiles and extremes.

The CMS 2023 data shown are national Medicare fee-for-service inpatient payments published under the CMS Provider Utilization and Payment Data program. The table below reports average total payment, average submitted covered charges, average Medicare payment amount, and total discharges for DRG 603. Values reflect national aggregates for calendar year 2023.

Average Total Payment	Average Submitted Charges	Average Medicare Payment	Total Discharges
$8.3K	$35K	$6.3K	62K

Patient Population

The DRG 603 population typically includes a mix of payers but skews toward a working-age and commercially insured cohort rather than being predominantly Medicare-aged. Medicare discharges are present, indicating some representation of older adults, but overall the payer mix is mixed with a meaningful share of private/commercial coverage. This suggests the population spans adult age ranges rather than being confined to Medicare-age only.

State Payment Rates

State: Alaska1 / 49

Alaska Benchmarks

Alaska’s DRG 603 mean payments range from 14K to 22K across payers, reflecting substantial variation within the state market. Cigna sits at the top of the range with a mean of 22K, while Blue Cross Blue Shield and Anthem are clustered at 14K. Cigna’s mean represents the most notable deviation above national averages for this DRG. See the table and chart below for payer-specific percentiles and distributions.

Key Insights for Alaska

Highest-paying payer: Cigna with a mean of 22K; lowest-paying payer: BCBS/Anthem (both 14K mean).
Alaska’s mean rates span a wide range from 14K to 22K, with Cigna notably above the national mean (~14K) while BCBS/Anthem align with national averages, indicating a meaningful premium from Cigna in this market.

Clinical Trials

Acute antimicrobial strategy trials: randomized or pragmatic studies comparing shorter versus standard-duration intravenous-to-oral antibiotic regimens for hospitalized adults with moderate-severity cellulitis (no major comorbid complications). These studies focus on time to clinical stability, length of IV therapy, early discharge readiness, and readmission for recurrent infection, targeting the common inpatient pathway for DRG 603 patients. Results are relevant to providers for optimizing antibiotic stewardship and to payers for reducing inpatient days and infusion-related costs.
Comparative effectiveness and wound-care pathway studies: multicenter trials or cohort studies comparing standardized care bundles (e.g., early source control, standardized wound assessment, outpatient wound clinic linkage) versus usual care for patients with limb cellulitis without systemic complications. The population includes adults admitted for cellulitis without MCC who may have peripheral edema, chronic venous disease, or minor skin breaks; outcomes include wound healing, treatment failure, and resource utilization. These investigations inform best-practice inpatient pathways that can lower variability in care, reduce resource use, and improve discharge planning important to hospital reimbursements.
Post-discharge outcomes and readmission risk studies: observational or pragmatic registry-based research assessing predictors of 30-day readmission, emergency visits, and patient-reported functional recovery after hospitalization for cellulitis without MCC, often including socioeconomic factors, adherence to outpatient antibiotics, and availability of home health services. The patient population studied comprises survivors of an uncomplicated inpatient stay whose post-discharge care determines recurrence and downstream costs. Findings guide payers and case managers on targeting transitional care interventions and allocating outpatient support to reduce avoidable readmissions and overall cost of care.

Related Codes

570-SKIN-DEBRIDEMENT-WITH-MCC

Skin Debridement with Major Complication or Comorbidity: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

571-SKIN-DEBRIDEMENT-WITH-CC

Skin Debridement with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

572-SKIN-DEBRIDEMENT-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

Skin Debridement without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

573-SKIN-GRAFT-FOR-SKIN-ULCER-OR-CELLULITIS-WITH-MCC

Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

574-SKIN-GRAFT-FOR-SKIN-ULCER-OR-CELLULITIS-WITH-CC

Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

575-SKIN-GRAFT-FOR-SKIN-ULCER-OR-CELLULITIS-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

576-SKIN-GRAFT-EXCEPT-FOR-SKIN-ULCER-OR-CELLULITIS-WITH-MCC

Skin Graft Except for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

577-SKIN-GRAFT-EXCEPT-FOR-SKIN-ULCER-OR-CELLULITIS-WITH-CC

Skin Graft Except for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

578-SKIN-GRAFT-EXCEPT-FOR-SKIN-ULCER-OR-CELLULITIS-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

Skin Graft Except for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

579-OTHER-SKIN-SUBCUTANEOUS-TISSUE-AND-BREAST-PROCEDURES-WITH-MCC

Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

Showing 1–10 of 31

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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National Payment Rates

Mean Rates by Payer — National — DRG 603

Average Total Payment	Average Submitted Charges	Average Medicare Payment	Total Discharges
$8.3K	$35K	$6.3K	62K

Patient Population

State Payment Rates

State: Alaska1 / 49

Alaska Benchmarks

Mean Rates by Payer — Alaska — DRG 603

Key Insights for Alaska

Highest-paying payer: Cigna with a mean of 22K; lowest-paying payer: BCBS/Anthem (both 14K mean).
Alaska’s mean rates span a wide range from 14K to 22K, with Cigna notably above the national mean (~14K) while BCBS/Anthem align with national averages, indicating a meaningful premium from Cigna in this market.

Clinical Trials

Acute antimicrobial strategy trials: randomized or pragmatic studies comparing shorter versus standard-duration intravenous-to-oral antibiotic regimens for hospitalized adults with moderate-severity cellulitis (no major comorbid complications). These studies focus on time to clinical stability, length of IV therapy, early discharge readiness, and readmission for recurrent infection, targeting the common inpatient pathway for DRG 603 patients. Results are relevant to providers for optimizing antibiotic stewardship and to payers for reducing inpatient days and infusion-related costs.
Comparative effectiveness and wound-care pathway studies: multicenter trials or cohort studies comparing standardized care bundles (e.g., early source control, standardized wound assessment, outpatient wound clinic linkage) versus usual care for patients with limb cellulitis without systemic complications. The population includes adults admitted for cellulitis without MCC who may have peripheral edema, chronic venous disease, or minor skin breaks; outcomes include wound healing, treatment failure, and resource utilization. These investigations inform best-practice inpatient pathways that can lower variability in care, reduce resource use, and improve discharge planning important to hospital reimbursements.
Post-discharge outcomes and readmission risk studies: observational or pragmatic registry-based research assessing predictors of 30-day readmission, emergency visits, and patient-reported functional recovery after hospitalization for cellulitis without MCC, often including socioeconomic factors, adherence to outpatient antibiotics, and availability of home health services. The patient population studied comprises survivors of an uncomplicated inpatient stay whose post-discharge care determines recurrence and downstream costs. Findings guide payers and case managers on targeting transitional care interventions and allocating outpatient support to reduce avoidable readmissions and overall cost of care.

Related Codes

570-SKIN-DEBRIDEMENT-WITH-MCC

Skin Debridement with Major Complication or Comorbidity: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

571-SKIN-DEBRIDEMENT-WITH-CC

Skin Debridement with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

572-SKIN-DEBRIDEMENT-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

Skin Debridement without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

573-SKIN-GRAFT-FOR-SKIN-ULCER-OR-CELLULITIS-WITH-MCC

Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

574-SKIN-GRAFT-FOR-SKIN-ULCER-OR-CELLULITIS-WITH-CC

Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

575-SKIN-GRAFT-FOR-SKIN-ULCER-OR-CELLULITIS-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

576-SKIN-GRAFT-EXCEPT-FOR-SKIN-ULCER-OR-CELLULITIS-WITH-MCC

Skin Graft Except for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

577-SKIN-GRAFT-EXCEPT-FOR-SKIN-ULCER-OR-CELLULITIS-WITH-CC

Skin Graft Except for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

578-SKIN-GRAFT-EXCEPT-FOR-SKIN-ULCER-OR-CELLULITIS-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

Skin Graft Except for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

579-OTHER-SKIN-SUBCUTANEOUS-TISSUE-AND-BREAST-PROCEDURES-WITH-MCC

Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

Showing 1–10 of 31

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.