2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H65Nonsuppurative otitis media
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
Code Classification
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
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Includes
- nonsuppurative otitis media with myringitis
Use Additional Code
- code for any associated perforated tympanic membrane H72
This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
The “use additional code” indicates that a secondary code could be used to further specify the patient’s condition. This note is not mandatory and is only used if enough information is available to assign an additional 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
Questions About H65Overview
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.
