2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H94.00Acoustic neuritis in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere, unspecified ear

ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H90-H94›H94

ICD-10-CM H94.00
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H94.00 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acoustic neuritis in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere, 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 a manifestation code that cannot be reported as the principal diagnosis. Coders also document this condition as acoustic neuritis. 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
H94.00
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Acoustic neuritis in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere, unspecified ear
Short Description
Acustc neuritis in infec/parastc dis classd elswhr, unsp ear
Parent Code
H94.0
Acoustic neuritis in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere

Code Classification

ChapterH60–H95Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
SectionH90-H94Other disorders of ear
CategoryH94Other disorders of ear in diseases classified elsewhere
This CodeH94.00Acoustic neuritis in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere, unspecified ear

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for H94.00.

Manifestation diagnoses
Manifestation codes describe the manifestation of an underlying disease, not the disease itself, and therefore should not be used as a principal diagnosis.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acoustic neuritis
  • Acoustic neuritis due to infectious disease

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 No · outpatient No

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.

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Convert H94.00 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
388.5 Acoustic nerve disorders
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 H94.00Overview

Is H94.00 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report acoustic neuritis in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere, unspecified ear on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does H94.00 group to?

On inpatient claims, acoustic neuritis in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere, unspecified ear maps to MS-DRG 154, 155, 156, with relative weights from 0.6911 to 1.5635 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can H94.00 be a principal diagnosis?

No. This is a manifestation code: acoustic neuritis in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere, unspecified ear describes the manifestation of an underlying disease rather than the disease itself, so the underlying condition is sequenced first.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H94.00?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, acoustic neuritis in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere, unspecified ear converts to ICD-9-CM 388.5 (acoustic nerve disorders). 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.