2022 ICD-10-CM Code H60.521
Acute chemical otitis externa, right ear
Code Classification
H60.521 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of acute chemical otitis externa, right ear. The code H60.521 is valid during the fiscal year 2022 from October 01, 2021 through September 30, 2022 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions.
The code H60.521 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.
Diagnostic Related Groups - MS-DRG Mapping
The ICD-10 code H60.521 is grouped in the following groups for version MS-DRG V39.0 What are Diagnostic Related Groups?
The Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) are a patient classification scheme which provides a means of relating the type of patients a hospital treats. The DRGs divides all possible principal diagnoses into mutually exclusive principal diagnosis areas referred to as Major Diagnostic Categories (MDC). applicable from 10/01/2021 through 09/30/2022.
| MS-DRG | MS-DRG Title | MCD | Relative Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 154 | OTHER EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT DIAGNOSES WITH MCC | 03 | 1.5425 |
| 155 | OTHER EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT DIAGNOSES WITH CC | 03 | 0.9068 |
| 156 | OTHER EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT DIAGNOSES WITHOUT CC/MCC | 03 | 0.6576 |
The relative weight of a diagnostic related group determines the reimbursement rate based on the severity of a patient's illness and the associated cost of care during hospitalization.
Convert H60.521 to ICD-9 Code
The General Equivalency Mapping (GEM) crosswalk indicates an approximate mapping between the ICD-10 code H60.521 its ICD-9 equivalent. The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 code and the ICD-9 code and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.
- 380.22 - Acute otitis externa NEC (Approximate Flag)
Quality Payment Program Measures
When code H60.521 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 Use | Percentage of patients aged 2 years and older with a diagnosis of AOE who were not prescribed systemic antimicrobial therapy. | Efficiency and Cost Reduction | Process | YES | Claims, Registry |
Information for Patients
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:
- Ear infections are the most common illness in infants and young children.
- Tinnitus, a roaring in your ears, can be the result of loud noises, medicines or a variety of other causes.
- Meniere's disease may be the result of fluid problems in your inner ear; its symptoms include tinnitus and dizziness.
- Ear barotrauma is an injury to your ear because of changes in barometric (air) or water pressure.
Some ear disorders can result in hearing disorders and deafness.
[Learn More in MedlinePlus]
Related Codes
| ICD Code | Description | Valid for Submission |
|---|---|---|
| H60 | Otitis externa | NON-BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.0 | Abscess of external ear | NON-BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.00 | Abscess of external ear, unspecified ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.01 | Abscess of right external ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.02 | Abscess of left external ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.03 | Abscess of external ear, bilateral | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.1 | Cellulitis of external ear | NON-BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.10 | Cellulitis of external ear, unspecified ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.11 | Cellulitis of right external ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.12 | Cellulitis of left external ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.13 | Cellulitis of external ear, bilateral | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.2 | Malignant otitis externa | NON-BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.20 | Malignant otitis externa, unspecified ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.21 | Malignant otitis externa, right ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.22 | Malignant otitis externa, left ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.23 | Malignant otitis externa, bilateral | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.3 | Other infective otitis externa | NON-BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.31 | Diffuse otitis externa | NON-BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.311 | Diffuse otitis externa, right ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.312 | Diffuse otitis externa, left ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.313 | Diffuse otitis externa, bilateral | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.319 | Diffuse otitis externa, unspecified ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.32 | Hemorrhagic otitis externa | NON-BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.321 | Hemorrhagic otitis externa, right ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.322 | Hemorrhagic otitis externa, left ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.323 | Hemorrhagic otitis externa, bilateral | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.329 | Hemorrhagic otitis externa, unspecified ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.33 | Swimmer's ear | NON-BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.331 | Swimmer's ear, right ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.332 | Swimmer's ear, left ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.333 | Swimmer's ear, bilateral | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.339 | Swimmer's ear, unspecified ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.39 | Other infective otitis externa | NON-BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.391 | Other infective otitis externa, right ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.392 | Other infective otitis externa, left ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.393 | Other infective otitis externa, bilateral | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.399 | Other infective otitis externa, unspecified ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.4 | Cholesteatoma of external ear | NON-BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.40 | Cholesteatoma of external ear, unspecified ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.41 | Cholesteatoma of right external ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.42 | Cholesteatoma of left external ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.43 | Cholesteatoma of external ear, bilateral | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.5 | Acute noninfective otitis externa | NON-BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.50 | Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa | NON-BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.501 | Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, right ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.502 | Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, left ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.503 | Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, bilateral | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.509 | Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, unspecified ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.51 | Acute actinic otitis externa | NON-BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.511 | Acute actinic otitis externa, right ear | BILLABLE CODE |
| H60.512 | Acute actinic otitis externa, left ear | BILLABLE CODE |
Code History
- 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 (First year ICD-10-CM implemented into the HIPAA code set)
