2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H95.819Postprocedural stenosis of unspecified external ear canal

ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H95›H95

ICD-10-CM H95.819
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

H95.819 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for postprocedural stenosis of unspecified external ear canal. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 919 through 921. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) and moves an inpatient stay to a higher severity level within its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 48 closely related codes. The code is flagged as an unspecified code, since codes identifying laterality exist in the same family. Coders also document this condition as acquired stenosis of external ear canal. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Postprocedural or postoperative ear and/or mastoid process complication.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H95.819
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Postprocedural stenosis of unspecified external ear canal
Short Description
Postprocedural stenosis of unspecified external ear canal
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
H95.81
Postprocedural stenosis of external ear canal

Code Classification

ChapterH60–H95Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
SectionH95Intraoperative and postprocedural complications and disorders of ear and mastoid process, not elsewhere classified
CategoryH95Intraoperative and postprocedural complications and disorders of ear and mastoid process, not elsewhere classified
This CodeH95.819Postprocedural stenosis of unspecified external ear canal

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for H95.819.

Unspecified codes
Unspecified codes exist in the ICD-10-CM classification for circumstances when documentation in the medical record does not provide the level of detail needed to support reporting a more specific code. However, in the inpatient setting, there should generally be very limited and rare circumstances for which the laterality (right, left, bilateral) of a condition is unable to be documented and reported. The following pages contain the list of unspecified ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes for which there is a more specific code to identify laterality (right, left, bilateral) within that code family.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acquired stenosis of external ear canal
  • Acquired stenosis of external ear canal secondary to surgery
  • Auditory system complication of procedure
  • Stenosis of external auditory canal caused by ionizing radiation
  • Stenosis of external auditory canal due to and following radiotherapy

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to H95.819: its own notes plus those printed at H95.8 and Chapter 8. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

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 H95.8 Other intraoperative and postprocedural complications and disorders of the ear and mastoid process, not elsewhere classified applies to 6 codes
  • postprocedural complications and disorders following mastoidectomy (H95.0-, H95.1-)
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)

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 H95.819, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming H95.819: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • H61.3 Acquired stenosis of external ear canal
    postprocedural stenosis of external ear canal (H95.81-) names H95.81-, which includes this code

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR EAR005
Postprocedural or postoperative ear and/or mastoid process complication
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Convert H95.819 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
997.99 Surg compl-body syst NEC
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 H95.819Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for postprocedural stenosis of unspecified external ear canal?

The ICD-10-CM code for postprocedural stenosis of unspecified external ear canal is H95.819 (sometimes written as H95819). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is H95.819 (Postprocedural stenosis of external ear canal) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does H95.819 group to?

When postprocedural stenosis of unspecified external ear canal is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 920, 919, 921, with relative weights from 0.6719 to 1.7624 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is H95.819 a CC or MCC?

CMS lists H95.819 as a CC (complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it moves the inpatient stay to a higher-weighted DRG within its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 48 closely related codes in its exclusion list.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of H95.819?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, postprocedural stenosis of unspecified external ear canal converts to ICD-9-CM 997.99 (surg compl-body syst NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.