H60.502 - Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, left ear

Version 2023
ICD-10:H60.502
Short Description:Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, left ear
Long Description:Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, left ear
Status: Valid for Submission
Version:ICD-10-CM 2023
Code Classification:
  • Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60–H95)
    • Diseases of external ear (H60-H62)
      • Otitis externa (H60)

H60.502 is a billable ICD-10 code used to specify a medical diagnosis of unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, left ear. The code is valid during the fiscal year 2023 from October 01, 2022 through September 30, 2023 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like H60.502 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.

The code is linked to some Quality Measures as part of Medicare's Quality Payment Program (QPP). When this code is used as part of a patient's medical record the following Quality Measures might apply: Acute Otitis Externa (aoe): Systemic Antimicrobial Therapy – Avoidance Of Inappropriate Use.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

Convert to ICD-9 Code

Source ICD-10 CodeTarget ICD-9 Code
H60.502380.22 - Acute otitis externa NEC
Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Quality Payment Program Measures

When code H60.502 is part of the patient's diagnoses the following Quality Measures apply and affect reimbursement. The objective of Medicare's Quality Measures is to improve patient care by making it more: effective, safe, efficient, patient-centered and equitable.

Quality Measure Description Quality Domain Measure Type High Priority Submission Methods
Acute Otitis Externa (AOE): Systemic Antimicrobial Therapy – Avoidance of Inappropriate UsePercentage of patients aged 2 years and older with a diagnosis of AOE who were not prescribed systemic antimicrobial therapy.Efficiency and Cost ReductionProcessYESClaims, Registry

Patient Education


Ear Disorders

Your ear has three main parts: outer, middle and inner. You use all of them in hearing. Sound waves come in through your outer ear. They reach your middle ear, where they make your eardrum vibrate. The vibrations are transmitted through three tiny bones, called ossicles, in your middle ear. The vibrations travel to your inner ear, a snail-shaped organ. The inner ear makes the nerve impulses that are sent to the brain. Your brain recognizes them as sounds. The inner ear also controls balance.

A variety of conditions may affect your hearing or balance:

Some ear disorders can result in hearing disorders and deafness.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History