2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H66

Suppurative and unspecified otitis media

ICD-10-CM Code:
H66
ICD-10 Code for:
Suppurative and unspecified otitis media
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
    (H60–H95)
    • Diseases of middle ear and mastoid
      (H65-H75)
      • Suppurative and unspecified otitis media
        (H66)

H66 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of suppurative and unspecified otitis media. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like H66 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Specific Coding Applicable to Suppurative and unspecified otitis media

Non-specific codes like H66 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for suppurative and unspecified otitis media:

  • H66.0 for Acute suppurative otitis media - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H66.00 for Acute suppurative otitis media without spontaneous rupture of ear drum - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H66.01 for Acute suppurative otitis media with spontaneous rupture of ear drum - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H66.1 for Chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.10 for Chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.11 for Chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media, right ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.12 for Chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media, left ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.13 for Chronic tubotympanic suppurative otitis media, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • H66.2 for Chronic atticoantral suppurative otitis media - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.20 for Chronic atticoantral suppurative otitis media, unspecified ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.21 for Chronic atticoantral suppurative otitis media, right ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.22 for Chronic atticoantral suppurative otitis media, left ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.23 for Chronic atticoantral suppurative otitis media, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • H66.3 for Other chronic suppurative otitis media - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H66.3X for Other chronic suppurative otitis media - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • H66.4 for Suppurative otitis media, unspecified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.40 for Suppurative otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.41 for Suppurative otitis media, unspecified, right ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.42 for Suppurative otitis media, unspecified, left ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.43 for Suppurative otitis media, unspecified, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • H66.9 for Otitis media, unspecified - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.90 for Otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.91 for Otitis media, unspecified, right ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.92 for Otitis media, unspecified, left ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H66.93 for Otitis media, unspecified, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Includes

Includes
This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
  • suppurative and unspecified otitis media with myringitis

Use Additional Code

Use Additional Code
The “use additional code” indicates that a secondary code could be used to further specify the patient’s condition. This note is not mandatory and is only used if enough information is available to assign an additional code.
  • code to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke Z77.22
  • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period P96.81
  • history of tobacco dependence Z87.891
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke Z57.31
  • tobacco dependence F17
  • tobacco use Z72.0

Patient Education


Ear Infections

Ear infections are the most common reason parents bring their child to a doctor. Three out of four children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday. Adults can also get ear infections, but they are less common.

The infection usually affects the middle ear and is called otitis media. The tubes inside the ears become clogged with fluid and mucus. This can affect hearing, because sound cannot get through all that fluid.

If your child isn't old enough to say "My ear hurts," here are a few things to look for:

  • Tugging at ears
  • Crying more than usual
  • Fluid draining from the ear
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Balance difficulties
  • Hearing problems

Your health care provider will diagnose an ear infection by looking inside the ear with an instrument called an otoscope.

Often, ear infections go away on their own. Your health care provider may recommend pain relievers. Severe infections and infections in young babies may require antibiotics.

Children who get infections often may need surgery to place small tubes inside their ears. The tubes relieve pressure in the ears so that the child can hear again.

NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.