2021 ICD-10-CM Code T16.9XXS
Foreign body in ear, unspecified ear, sequela
Valid for Submission
T16.9XXS is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of foreign body in ear, unspecified ear, sequela. The code T16.9XXS is valid during the fiscal year 2021 from October 01, 2020 through September 30, 2021 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions.
The ICD-10-CM code T16.9XXS might also be used to specify conditions or terms like foreign body in auditory canal, foreign body in auricle, foreign body in ear, foreign body in middle ear, foreign body of skin of ear region , glass in ear region, etc. The code is exempt from present on admission (POA) reporting for inpatient admissions to general acute care hospitals.
T16.9XXS is a sequela code, includes a 7th character and should be used for complications that arise as a direct result of a condition like foreign body in ear unspecified ear. According to ICD-10-CM Guidelines a "sequela" code should be used for chronic or residual conditions that are complications of an initial acute disease, illness or injury. The most common sequela is pain. Usually, two diagnosis codes are needed when reporting sequela. The first code describes the nature of the sequela while the second code describes the sequela or late effect.
Unspecified diagnosis codes like T16.9XXS are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.
| ICD-10: | T16.9XXS |
| Short Description: | Foreign body in ear, unspecified ear, sequela |
| Long Description: | Foreign body in ear, unspecified ear, sequela |
Code Classification
Approximate Synonyms
The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:
- Foreign body in auditory canal
- Foreign body in auricle
- Foreign body in ear
- Foreign body in middle ear
- Foreign body of skin of ear region
- Glass in ear region
- Glass in head
- Insect in external auditory meatus
- Metal foreign body in ear region
- O/E - foreign body in ear
Diagnostic Related Groups - MS-DRG Mapping
The ICD-10 code T16.9XXS is grouped in the following groups for version MS-DRG V38.0 What are Diagnostic Related Groups?
The Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) are a patient classification scheme which provides a means of relating the type of patients a hospital treats. The DRGs divides all possible principal diagnoses into mutually exclusive principal diagnosis areas referred to as Major Diagnostic Categories (MDC). applicable from 10/01/2020 through 09/30/2021.
Present on Admission (POA)
T16.9XXS is exempt from POA reporting - The Present on Admission (POA) indicator is used for diagnosis codes included in claims involving inpatient admissions to general acute care hospitals. POA indicators must be reported to CMS on each claim to facilitate the grouping of diagnoses codes into the proper Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG). CMS publishes a listing of specific diagnosis codes that are exempt from the POA reporting requirement. Review other POA exempt codes here .
CMS POA Indicator Options and Definitions
| POA Indicator Code | POA Reason for Code | CMS will pay the CC/MCC DRG? |
|---|---|---|
| Y | Diagnosis was present at time of inpatient admission. | YES |
| N | Diagnosis was not present at time of inpatient admission. | NO |
| U | Documentation insufficient to determine if the condition was present at the time of inpatient admission. | NO |
| W | Clinically undetermined - unable to clinically determine whether the condition was present at the time of inpatient admission. | YES |
| 1 | Unreported/Not used - Exempt from POA reporting. | NO |
Convert T16.9XXS to ICD-9 Code
The General Equivalency Mapping (GEM) crosswalk indicates an approximate mapping between the ICD-10 code T16.9XXS its ICD-9 equivalent. The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 code and the ICD-9 code and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.
- 908.5 - Late eff FB in orifice (Approximate Flag)
Information for Patients
Foreign Bodies
If you've ever gotten a splinter or had sand in your eye, you've had experience with a foreign body. A foreign body is something that is stuck inside you but isn't supposed to be there. You may inhale or swallow a foreign body, or you may get one from an injury to almost any part of your body. Foreign bodies are more common in small children, who sometimes stick things in their mouths, ears, and noses.
Some foreign bodies, like a small splinter, do not cause serious harm. Inhaled or swallowed foreign bodies may cause choking or bowel obstruction and may require medical care.
- Bezoar (Medical Encyclopedia)
- Eye - foreign object in (Medical Encyclopedia)
- Foreign body in the nose (Medical Encyclopedia)
- Foreign object - inhaled or swallowed (Medical Encyclopedia)
- Splinter removal (Medical Encyclopedia)
[Learn More in MedlinePlus]
Code History
- FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
- FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
- FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
- FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
- FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
- FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016 (First year ICD-10-CM implemented into the HIPAA code set)