Otitis externa (H60) ICD-10-CM
The H60 code range covers otitis externa with 94 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 72 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Codes in the H60 Range 94 codes · 72 billable
- H60 Otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.0 Abscess of external earNon-billable
- H60.00 Abscess of external ear, unspecified ear
- H60.01 Abscess of right external ear
- H60.02 Abscess of left external ear
- H60.03 Abscess of external ear, bilateral
- H60.1 Cellulitis of external earNon-billable
- H60.10 Cellulitis of external ear, unspecified ear
- H60.11 Cellulitis of right external ear
- H60.12 Cellulitis of left external ear
- H60.13 Cellulitis of external ear, bilateral
- H60.2 Malignant otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.20 Malignant otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.21 Malignant otitis externa, right ear
- H60.22 Malignant otitis externa, left ear
- H60.23 Malignant otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.3 Other infective otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.31 Diffuse otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.311 Diffuse otitis externa, right ear
- H60.312 Diffuse otitis externa, left ear
- H60.313 Diffuse otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.319 Diffuse otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.32 Hemorrhagic otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.321 Hemorrhagic otitis externa, right ear
- H60.322 Hemorrhagic otitis externa, left ear
- H60.323 Hemorrhagic otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.329 Hemorrhagic otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.33 Swimmer's earNon-billable
- H60.331 Swimmer's ear, right ear
- H60.332 Swimmer's ear, left ear
- H60.333 Swimmer's ear, bilateral
- H60.339 Swimmer's ear, unspecified ear
- H60.39 Other infective otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.391 Other infective otitis externa, right ear
- H60.392 Other infective otitis externa, left ear
- H60.393 Other infective otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.399 Other infective otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.4 Cholesteatoma of external earNon-billable
- H60.40 Cholesteatoma of external ear, unspecified ear
- H60.41 Cholesteatoma of right external ear
- H60.42 Cholesteatoma of left external ear
- H60.43 Cholesteatoma of external ear, bilateral
- H60.5 Acute noninfective otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.50 Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.501 Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, right ear
- H60.502 Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, left ear
- H60.503 Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.509 Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.51 Acute actinic otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.511 Acute actinic otitis externa, right ear
- H60.512 Acute actinic otitis externa, left ear
- H60.513 Acute actinic otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.519 Acute actinic otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.52 Acute chemical otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.521 Acute chemical otitis externa, right ear
- H60.522 Acute chemical otitis externa, left ear
- H60.523 Acute chemical otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.529 Acute chemical otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.53 Acute contact otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.531 Acute contact otitis externa, right ear
- H60.532 Acute contact otitis externa, left ear
- H60.533 Acute contact otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.539 Acute contact otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.54 Acute eczematoid otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.541 Acute eczematoid otitis externa, right ear
- H60.542 Acute eczematoid otitis externa, left ear
- H60.543 Acute eczematoid otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.549 Acute eczematoid otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.55 Acute reactive otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.551 Acute reactive otitis externa, right ear
- H60.552 Acute reactive otitis externa, left ear
- H60.553 Acute reactive otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.559 Acute reactive otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.59 Other noninfective acute otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.591 Other noninfective acute otitis externa, right ear
- H60.592 Other noninfective acute otitis externa, left ear
- H60.593 Other noninfective acute otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.599 Other noninfective acute otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.6 Unspecified chronic otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.60 Unspecified chronic otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.61 Unspecified chronic otitis externa, right ear
- H60.62 Unspecified chronic otitis externa, left ear
- H60.63 Unspecified chronic otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.8 Other otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.8X Other otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.8X1 Other otitis externa, right ear
- H60.8X2 Other otitis externa, left ear
- H60.8X3 Other otitis externa, bilateral
- H60.8X9 Other otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.9 Unspecified otitis externaNon-billable
- H60.90 Unspecified otitis externa, unspecified ear
- H60.91 Unspecified otitis externa, right ear
- H60.92 Unspecified otitis externa, left ear
- H60.93 Unspecified otitis externa, bilateral
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the H60 range.
Otitis Externa
Inflammation of the OUTER EAR including the external EAR CANAL, cartilages of the auricle (EAR CARTILAGE), and the TYMPANIC MEMBRANE.
About the H60 Code Range
ICD-10 code section H60 covers various types of otitis externa, which is inflammation or infection of the external ear canal and surrounding ear structures. These codes specify conditions ranging from abscesses and cellulitis to malignant and chronic forms of otitis externa.
This section helps healthcare professionals accurately document and bill for diagnoses of ear infections such as swimmer’s ear (H60.33), malignant otitis externa (H60.2), and other infective or noninfective external ear inflammations. The codes distinguish affected ears (right, left, bilateral, or unspecified), which streamlines clinical communication. Common synonyms like furunculosis of external auditory meatus (H60.00), cholesteatoma of external ear (H60.4), and allergic contact dermatitis of the pinna (H60.539) assist coders in matching clinical terms to precise codes. For example, an abscess of external ear maps to H60.0, while diffuse otitis externa falls under H60.31.
These detailed distinctions ensure clear documentation for treatment of external ear infections and inflammatory conditions, supporting efficient coding practices across diverse clinical scenarios involving external ear disorders.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the H60 range?
Of the 94 codes in this range, 72 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the H60 range classify?
The range classifies otitis externa. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
