2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H60.399Other infective otitis externa, unspecified ear

ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H60-H62›H60

ICD-10-CM H60.399
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H60.399 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other infective otitis externa, unspecified ear. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 154 through 156. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified and unspecified disorders of the ear.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H60.399
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other infective otitis externa, unspecified ear
Short Description
Other infective otitis externa, unspecified ear
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H60.39
Other infective otitis externa

Code Classification

ChapterH60–H95Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
SectionH60-H62Diseases of external ear
CategoryH60Otitis externa
This CodeH60.399Other infective otitis externa, unspecified ear

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acute bacterial otitis externa
  • Acute infection of pinna
  • Acute infective otitis externa
  • Acute viral otitis externa
  • Bacterial otitis externa
  • Bacterial otitis media
  • Chronic bacterial otitis externa
  • Chronic infective otitis externa
  • Chronic mycotic otitis externa
  • Chronic otitis externa due to aspergillosis
  • Chronic viral otitis externa
  • Circumscribed otitis externa
  • Infection of external auditory canal
  • Infection of external ear
  • Infective otitis externa
  • Infective otitis externa due to erysipelas
  • Infective otitis externa due to impetigo
  • Invasive aspergillosis
  • Invasive aural aspergillosis

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR EAR006
Other specified and unspecified disorders of the ear
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Ear Infections

Ear infections are the most common reason parents bring their child to a doctor. Three out of four children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday. Adults can also get ear infections, but they are less common.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert H60.399 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
380.10 Infec otitis externa NOS
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About H60.399Overview

Is H60.399 (Other infective otitis externa) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other infective otitis externa, unspecified ear on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does H60.399 group to?

When other infective otitis externa, unspecified ear is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 154, 155, 156, with relative weights from 0.6911 to 1.5635 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H60.399?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other infective otitis externa, unspecified ear converts to ICD-9-CM 380.10 (infec otitis externa NOS). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.