2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H61.20Impacted cerumen, unspecified ear

ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H60-H62›H61

ICD-10-CM H61.20
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H61.20 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for impacted cerumen, 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. The code is flagged as a questionable admission, since it rarely justifies inpatient admission on its own. Coders also document this condition as contents of ear canal - finding. 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
H61.20
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Impacted cerumen, unspecified ear
Short Description
Impacted cerumen, unspecified ear
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H61.2
Impacted cerumen

Code Classification

ChapterH60–H95Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
SectionH60-H62Diseases of external ear
CategoryH61Other disorders of external ear
This CodeH61.20Impacted cerumen, unspecified ear

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for H61.20.

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 SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Contents of ear canal - finding
  • Excessive cerumen in ear canal
  • Impacted cerumen
  • Wax in ear canal

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Ear
      • wax (impacted)

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 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.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert H61.20 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
380.4 Impacted cerumen
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 H61.20Overview

Is H61.20 (Impacted cerumen) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does H61.20 group to?

When impacted cerumen, 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.

Does H61.20 justify an inpatient admission?

Not on its own. The Medicare Code Editor lists this code as a questionable admission because impacted cerumen, unspecified ear is not usually sufficient justification for admission to an acute care hospital.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H61.20?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, impacted cerumen, unspecified ear converts to ICD-9-CM 380.4 (impacted cerumen). 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.