2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H66.90Otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear

ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H65-H75›H66

ICD-10-CM H66.90
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

H66.90 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 152 through 153. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Otitis media.

This medical diagnosis code is frequently used in Pediatrics medical specialties to designate conditions such otitis media, unspecified.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H66.90
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear
Short Description
Otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H66.9
Otitis media, unspecified

Code Classification

ChapterH60–H95Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
SectionH65-H75Diseases of middle ear and mastoid
CategoryH66Suppurative and unspecified otitis media
This CodeH66.90Otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acute otitis media
  • Acute persistent otitis media
  • Bacterial ear infection
  • Bacterial otitis media
  • Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea
  • Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea due to otitis media
  • Chronic otitis media
  • Chronic otitis media after insertion of tympanic ventilation tube
  • Chronic otitis media with perforation of tympanic membrane
  • Fungal ear infection
  • Haemophilus influenzae otitis media
  • Infection of ear
  • Infective otitis media
  • Inflammatory disorder of ear, nose and/or throat
  • Otitis
  • Otitis media
  • Otitis media caused by Influenza A virus
  • Otitis media caused by influenza virus
  • Otitis media caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • Otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Perforation of tympanic membrane due to otitis media
  • Recurrent infection of ear
  • Recurrent middle ear infection
  • Recurrent otitis media

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to H66.90: its own notes plus those printed at H66.9, H66, and 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.

From H66 Suppurative and unspecified otitis media applies to 36 codes
  • suppurative and unspecified 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.

From H66.9 Otitis media, unspecified applies to 4 codes
  • code for any associated perforated tympanic membrane (H72.-)
From H66 Suppurative and unspecified otitis media applies to 36 codes
  • code 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)
  • 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 H66.90, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 3

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming H66.90: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • H65.1 Other acute nonsuppurative otitis media
    otitis media (acute) NOS (H66.9) names H66.9, which includes this code
  • H73.0 Acute myringitis
    acute myringitis with otitis media (H65, H66) names H66, which includes this code
  • H73.1 Chronic myringitis
    chronic myringitis with otitis media (H65, H66) names H66, which includes this code

Code First 1

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and H66.90 is one of the conditions named.

  • H72 Perforation of tympanic membrane
    any associated otitis media (H65.-, H66.1-, H66.2-, H66.3-, H66.4-, H66.9-, H67.-) names H66.9-, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR EAR001
Otitis media
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Otitis Media

    inflammation of the middle ear including the auditory ossicles and the eustachian tube.

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 H66.90 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
382.9 Otitis media 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 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About H66.90Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear?

The ICD-10-CM code for otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear is H66.90 (sometimes written as H6690). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is H66.90 (Otitis media, unspecified) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does H66.90 group to?

When otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 152, 153, with relative weights from 0.7420 to 1.1147 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Does H66.90 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note at H66.9, which applies to H66.90, reads: code for any associated perforated tympanic membrane (H72.-). The additional code is reported after H66.90.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H66.90?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, otitis media, unspecified, unspecified ear converts to ICD-9-CM 382.9 (otitis media NOS). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.