2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H65Nonsuppurative otitis media

ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H65-H75›H65

ICD-10-CM H65
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

H65 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for nonsuppurative otitis media, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as H65.00, H65.01, H65.02, and H65.03.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H65
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Nonsuppurative otitis media
Short Description
Nonsuppurative otitis media
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
H65-H75
Diseases of middle ear and mastoid

Code Classification

ChapterH60–H95Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
SectionH65-H75Diseases of middle ear and mastoid
CategoryH65Nonsuppurative otitis media
This CodeH65Nonsuppurative otitis media

Specific Coding for Nonsuppurative otitis mediaOverview

Non-specific codes like H65 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • H65.0 for Acute serous otitis media

  • Use H65.00 for Acute serous otitis media, unspecified ear

  • Use H65.01 for Acute serous otitis media, right ear

  • Use H65.02 for Acute serous otitis media, left ear

  • Use H65.03 for Acute serous otitis media, bilateral

  • Use H65.04 for Acute serous otitis media, recurrent, right ear

  • Use H65.05 for Acute serous otitis media, recurrent, left ear

  • Use H65.06 for Acute serous otitis media, recurrent, bilateral

  • Use H65.07 for Acute serous otitis media, recurrent, unspecified ear

  • H65.1 for Other acute nonsuppurative otitis media

  • H65.11 for Acute and subacute allergic otitis media (mucoid) (sanguinous) (serous)

  • H65.19 for Other acute nonsuppurative otitis media

  • H65.2 for Chronic serous otitis media

  • Use H65.20 for Chronic serous otitis media, unspecified ear

  • Use H65.21 for Chronic serous otitis media, right ear

  • Use H65.22 for Chronic serous otitis media, left ear

  • Use H65.23 for Chronic serous otitis media, bilateral

  • H65.3 for Chronic mucoid otitis media

  • Use H65.30 for Chronic mucoid otitis media, unspecified ear

  • Use H65.31 for Chronic mucoid otitis media, right ear

  • Use H65.32 for Chronic mucoid otitis media, left ear

  • Use H65.33 for Chronic mucoid otitis media, bilateral

  • H65.4 for Other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media

  • H65.41 for Chronic allergic otitis media

  • H65.49 for Other chronic nonsuppurative otitis media

  • H65.9 for Unspecified nonsuppurative otitis media

  • Use H65.90 for Unspecified nonsuppurative otitis media, unspecified ear

  • Use H65.91 for Unspecified nonsuppurative otitis media, right ear

  • Use H65.92 for Unspecified nonsuppurative otitis media, left ear

  • Use H65.93 for Unspecified nonsuppurative otitis media, bilateral

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to H65: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 8. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

  • nonsuppurative otitis media with myringitis

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 8 (H60-H95) Diseases of the ear and mastoid process applies to 653 codes
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

  • code for any associated perforated tympanic membrane (H72.-)
  • code, if applicable, to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
  • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
  • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
  • infectious agent (B95-B97)
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
  • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
  • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 8 (H60-H95) Diseases of the ear and mastoid process applies to 653 codes
  • Use an external cause code following the code for the ear condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the ear condition

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name H65, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 2

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming H65: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • H73.0 Acute myringitis
    acute myringitis with otitis media (H65, H66)
  • H73.1 Chronic myringitis
    chronic myringitis with otitis media (H65, H66)

Code First 2

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and H65 is one of the conditions named.

  • B97.4 Respiratory syncytial virus as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere
    otitis media (H65.-)
  • H72 Perforation of tympanic membrane
    any associated otitis media (H65.-, H66.1-, H66.2-, H66.3-, H66.4-, H66.9-, H67.-)

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

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.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About H65Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for nonsuppurative otitis media?

H65 is the ICD-10-CM category for nonsuppurative otitis media, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is H65 (Nonsuppurative otitis media) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for nonsuppurative otitis media, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for nonsuppurative otitis media need a more specific code from this category, such as H65.00, H65.01, and H65.02.

Does H65 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code for any associated perforated tympanic membrane (H72.-); code, if applicable, to identify:; exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22); exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81); history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891); and 4 more listed in the Instructional Notes section. The additional code is reported after H65.