2022 ICD-10-CM Code H61.20
Impacted cerumen, unspecified ear
Valid for Submission
| ICD-10: | H61.20 |
| Short Description: | Impacted cerumen, unspecified ear |
| Long Description: | Impacted cerumen, unspecified ear |
Code Classification
H61.20 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of impacted cerumen, unspecified ear. The code H61.20 is valid during the fiscal year 2022 from October 01, 2021 through September 30, 2022 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions.
The ICD-10-CM code H61.20 might also be used to specify conditions or terms like excessive cerumen in ear canal, impacted cerumen or wax in ear canal.
The code H61.20 is not usually sufficient justification for admission to an acute care hospital when used as a principal diagnosis.
Unspecified diagnosis codes like H61.20 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.
Index to Diseases and Injuries
The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10 code(s). The following references for the code H61.20 are found in the index:
- - Ear - See Also: condition;
- - wax (impacted) - H61.20
Code Edits
The Medicare Code Editor (MCE) detects and reports errors in the coding of claims data. The following ICD-10 Code Edits are applicable to this code:
- Questionable admission codes - Some diagnoses are not usually sufficient justification for admission to an acute care hospital. For example, if a patient is given code R030 for elevated blood pressure reading, without diagnosis of hypertension, then the patient would have a questionable admission, since elevated blood pressure reading is not normally sufficient justification for admission to a hospital. The following list contains diagnosis codes identified as questionable admission when used.
Approximate Synonyms
The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:
- Excessive cerumen in ear canal
- Impacted cerumen
- Wax in ear canal
Diagnostic Related Groups - MS-DRG Mapping
The ICD-10 code H61.20 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 H61.20 to ICD-9 Code
The General Equivalency Mapping (GEM) crosswalk indicates an approximate mapping between the ICD-10 code H61.20 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.
- 380.4 - Impacted cerumen (Approximate Flag)
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]
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)