2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H66.92Otitis media, unspecified, left ear
ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H65-H75›H66
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
H66.92 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for otitis media, unspecified, left 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. Coders also document this condition as acute left otitis media. 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
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Acute left otitis media
- Chronic otitis media after insertion of tympanic ventilation tube
- Chronic otitis media of left ear
- Chronic otitis media of left ear following insertion of tympanic ventilation tube
- Infection of left ear
- Otitis media of left ear
- Perforation of left tympanic membrane due to otitis media
- Recurrent acute otitis media of left ear
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to H66.92: 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.
- 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.
- 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.-)
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- 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 H66.92, its category, or a range that includes it.
Excludes1 3
These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming H66.92: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
- H65.1 Other acute nonsuppurative otitis mediaotitis media (acute) NOS (H66.9) names H66.9, which includes this code
- H73.0 Acute myringitisacute myringitis with otitis media (H65, H66) names H66, which includes this code
- H73.1 Chronic myringitischronic 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 H66.92 is one of the conditions named.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
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 H66.92 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About H66.92Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for otitis media, unspecified, left ear?
The ICD-10-CM code for otitis media, unspecified, left ear is H66.92 (sometimes written as H6692). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is H66.92 (Otitis media, unspecified) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report otitis media, unspecified, left ear on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does H66.92 group to?
When otitis media, unspecified, left 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 H66.92 need an additional code?
When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note at H66.9, which applies to H66.92, reads: code for any associated perforated tympanic membrane (H72.-). The additional code is reported after H66.92.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H66.92?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, otitis media, unspecified, left ear converts to ICD-9-CM 382.9 (otitis media NOS). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
