09N48ZZRelease Left External Auditory Canal, Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic

  • Billable / Specific Code
ICD-10-PCS 09N48ZZ
CMS Source: FY 2027 ICD-10-PCS dataset. Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027.FacebookXLinkedInPrint

09N48ZZ is a billable ICD-10-PCS procedure code for Release Left External Auditory Canal, Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to 12 MS-DRGs. The root operation Release involves freeing a body part from an abnormal physical constraint by cutting or by the use of force. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this procedure falls under ENT procedures, NEC.

Code Identity

ICD-10-PCS Code
09N48ZZ
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Release Left External Auditory Canal, Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic
Short Description
Release Left External Auditory Canal, Endo
Parent Code

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.

PositionDesignationValueMeaning
1Section0Medical and Surgical
2Body System9Ear, Nose, Sinus
3OperationNRelease
4BodyPart4External Auditory Canal, Left
5Approach8Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic
6DeviceZNo Device
7QualifierZNo Qualifier

In the ICD-10-PCS Alphabetic Index

These FY 2027 ICD-10-PCS Alphabetic Index entries lead to this code:

Leads to this code's table
Anatomy or device term that leads here
Release, Ear, External Auditory Canal, Left
Leads to this code's table

Browse the full ICD-10-PCS Alphabetic Index →

Clinical Classification (CCSR)

AHRQ groups this procedure code into these clinical categories.

ENT017
ENT procedures, NEC
Clinical domain: Ear, Nose, and Throat Procedures

Convert to ICD-9-PCS

Closest ICD-9-PCS equivalents for this code under the General Equivalence Mappings.

18.9
Other operations on external ear
Approximate match.

Similar Procedure Codes

Questions About 09N48ZZ

Is 09N48ZZ a billable code?

Yes. This is a complete seven-character ICD-10-PCS code, specific enough to report Release Left External Auditory Canal, Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic on inpatient claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What do the characters in 09N48ZZ 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 N is the Operation (Release); the 4th character 4 is the BodyPart (External Auditory Canal, Left); the 5th character 8 is the Approach (Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic); the 6th character Z is the Device (No Device); the 7th character Z is the Qualifier (No Qualifier).

What MS-DRG does 09N48ZZ group to?

On an inpatient stay, Release Left External Auditory Canal, Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic maps to MS-DRGs 143, 144, 145, 579, 580, 581, 907, 908, 909, 957, 958, 959, with relative weights from 1.2335 to 7.5502. The MS-DRG sets the fixed Medicare payment for the stay.

What is the ICD-9-PCS equivalent of 09N48ZZ?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, Release Left External Auditory Canal, Via Natural or Artificial Opening Endoscopic crosswalks to ICD-9-PCS 18.9 (Other operations on external ear). The mapping is approximate, so confirm it fits the documentation.