09960ZXDrainage of Left Middle Ear, Open Approach, Diagnostic
- Billable / Specific Code
09960ZX is a billable ICD-10-PCS procedure code for Drainage of Left Middle Ear, Open Approach, Diagnostic. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRGs 143, 144, 145. The root operation Drainage involves taking or letting out fluids and/or gases from a body part. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this procedure falls under ENT diagnostic procedures (non-endoscopic).
Code Identity
PCS Table Breakdown
Each ICD-10-PCS code is built from seven characters, each an axis of the procedure. Hover or tap the icons for the official CMS definitions.
| Position | Designation | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Section | 0 | Medical and Surgical |
| 2 | Body System | 9 | Ear, Nose, Sinus |
| 3 | Operation | 9 | Drainage |
| 4 | BodyPart | 6 | Middle Ear, Left |
| 5 | Approach | 0 | Open |
| 6 | Device | Z | No Device |
| 7 | Qualifier | X | Diagnostic |
In the ICD-10-PCS Alphabetic Index
These FY 2027 ICD-10-PCS Alphabetic Index entries lead to this code:
To code drainage of the left middle ear, open the FY 2027 ICD-10-PCS Alphabetic Index at Drainage, then the subterms Ear, Middle, Left. The index leads to table 099, where the approach, device and qualifier values shown in the breakdown above complete the seven-character code 09960ZX.
Clinical Classification (CCSR)
AHRQ groups this procedure code into these clinical categories.
Convert to ICD-9-PCS
Closest ICD-9-PCS equivalents for this code under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code History
Similar Procedure Codes
Questions About 09960ZX
Is 09960ZX a billable code?
Yes. This is a complete seven-character ICD-10-PCS code, specific enough to report Drainage of Left Middle Ear, Open Approach, Diagnostic on inpatient claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What do the characters in 09960ZX mean?
The code breaks down character by character: the 1st character 0 is the Section (Medical and Surgical); the 2nd character 9 is the Body System (Ear, Nose, Sinus); the 3rd character 9 is the Operation (Drainage); the 4th character 6 is the BodyPart (Middle Ear, Left); the 5th character 0 is the Approach (Open); the 6th character Z is the Device (No Device); the 7th character X is the Qualifier (Diagnostic).
What MS-DRG does 09960ZX group to?
On an inpatient stay, Drainage of Left Middle Ear, Open Approach, Diagnostic maps to MS-DRGs 143, 144, 145, with relative weights from 1.2335 to 3.8500. The MS-DRG sets the fixed Medicare payment for the stay.
What is the ICD-9-PCS equivalent of 09960ZX?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, Drainage of Left Middle Ear, Open Approach, Diagnostic crosswalks to ICD-9-PCS 20.32 (Biopsy of middle and inner ear). The mapping is approximate, so confirm it fits the documentation.
