2021 ICD-10-CM Code H60.521

Acute chemical otitis externa, right ear

  1. ICD-10-CM Index
  2. Chapter: H60–H95
  3. Section: H60-H62
  4. Block: H60
  5. H60.521 - Acute chemical otitis externa, right ear
Version 2021
Billable Code
MS-DRG Mapping

Valid for Submission

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 2021 from October 01, 2020 through September 30, 2021 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.

ICD-10:H60.521
Short Description:Acute chemical otitis externa, right ear
Long Description:Acute chemical otitis externa, right ear

Code Classification

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.

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 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

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:

Some ear disorders can result in hearing disorders and deafness.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

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)

Previous Code: H60.52

Related Codes

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