3E1B78XIrrigation of Ear using Irrigating Substance, Via Natural or Artificial Opening, Diagnostic

  • Billable / Specific Code
ICD-10-PCS 3E1B78X
CMS Source: FY 2026 ICD-10-PCS dataset. Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026.FacebookXLinkedInPrint

3E1B78X is a billable ICD-10-PCS procedure code for Irrigation of Ear using Irrigating Substance, Via Natural or Artificial Opening, Diagnostic. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The root operation Irrigation involves putting in or on a cleansing substance. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this procedure falls under Irrigation (diagnostic and therapeutic).

Code Identity

ICD-10-PCS Code
3E1B78X
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Irrigation of Ear using Irrigating Substance, Via Natural or Artificial Opening, Diagnostic
Short Description
Irrigation of Ear using Irrigat, Via Opening, Diagn
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
1Section3Administration
2Body SystemEPhysiological Systems and Anatomical Regions
3Operation1Irrigation
4BodySystem/RegionBEar
5Approach7Via Natural or Artificial Opening
6Substance8Irrigating Substance
7QualifierXDiagnostic

Clinical Classification (CCSR)

AHRQ groups 3E1B78X into these clinical categories.

ADM018
Irrigation (diagnostic and therapeutic)
Clinical domain: Administration of Therapeutic Substances

Convert to ICD-9-PCS

Closest ICD-9-PCS equivalents for 3E1B78X under the General Equivalence Mappings.

96.52
Approximate match.

Similar Procedure Codes

Questions About 3E1B78X

Is 3E1B78X a billable code?

Yes. 3E1B78X is a complete seven-character ICD-10-PCS code, specific enough to report Irrigation of Ear using Irrigating Substance, Via Natural or Artificial Opening, Diagnostic on inpatient claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What do the characters in 3E1B78X mean?

3E1B78X breaks down character by character: the 1st character 3 is the Section (Administration); the 2nd character E is the Body System (Physiological Systems and Anatomical Regions); the 3rd character 1 is the Operation (Irrigation); the 4th character B is the BodySystem/Region (Ear); the 5th character 7 is the Approach (Via Natural or Artificial Opening); the 6th character 8 is the Substance (Irrigating Substance); the 7th character X is the Qualifier (Diagnostic).

What is the ICD-9-PCS equivalent of 3E1B78X?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, Irrigation of Ear using Irrigating Substance, Via Natural or Artificial Opening, Diagnostic crosswalks to ICD-9-PCS 96.52. The mapping is approximate, so confirm it fits the documentation.