Excludes1 Notes in Chapter 8: Diseases of the ear and mastoid process ICD-10-CM
An Excludes1 note means "NOT CODED HERE": the excluded code should never be reported together with the code above the note. In Chapter 8 (H60-H95), notes printed in the chapter name other codes 53 times, and Excludes1 Notes anywhere in the Tabular List name the chapter’s codes 29 times, covering 22 distinct codes, categories and ranges. Switch views to read the list either way.
Excludes1 Notes by the code that carries the note
- postprocedural stenosis of external ear canal (H95.81-)
- adhesive middle ear disease (H74.1)
- tuberculous otitis media (A18.6)
- tuberculous mastoiditis (A18.03)
- glue ear (H65.3-)
- epidemic vertigo (A88.1)
- H90.5 Unspecified sensorineural hearing loss
- leakage of cerebrospinal fluid through ear (G96.0)
- presbycusis (H91.1)
- H93.25 Central auditory processing disorder
- mixed receptive-expressive language disorder (F80.2)
- H94.0 Acoustic neuritis in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere applies to 4 codes
- H95.2 Intraoperative hemorrhage and hematoma of ear and mastoid process complicating a procedure applies to 2 codes
- intraoperative hemorrhage and hematoma of ear and mastoid process due to accidental puncture or laceration during a procedure (H95.3-)
- H91 Other and unspecified hearing loss: impacted cerumen (H61.2-)
- H74.1 Adhesive middle ear disease: glue ear (H65.3-)
- H72 Perforation of tympanic membrane: acute suppurative otitis media with rupture of the tympanic membrane (H66.01-)
- H65.1 Other acute nonsuppurative otitis media: otitis media (acute) NOS (H66.9)
- H65.3 Chronic mucoid otitis media: adhesive middle ear disease (H74.1)
- D14.0 Benign neoplasm of middle ear, nasal cavity and accessory sinuses: polyp of ear (middle) (H74.4)
- R42 Dizziness and giddiness: vertiginous syndromes (H81.-)
- H90 Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss: ototoxic hearing loss (H91.0-)
- H93.0 Degenerative and vascular disorders of ear: presbycusis (H91.1)
- H90 Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss: sudden (idiopathic) hearing loss (H91.2-)
- H91.3 Deaf nonspeaking, not elsewhere classified
- H90 Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss: deaf nonspeaking NEC (H91.3)
- R52 Pain, unspecified: ear pain (H92.0-)
- H91 Other and unspecified hearing loss: transient ischemic deafness (H93.01-)
- H93.25 Central auditory processing disorder
- H95.2 Intraoperative hemorrhage and hematoma of ear and mastoid process complicating a procedure: intraoperative hemorrhage and hematoma of ear and mastoid process due to accidental puncture or laceration during a procedure (H95.3-)
- H61.3 Acquired stenosis of external ear canal: postprocedural stenosis of external ear canal (H95.81-)
The first view lists notes printed in this chapter (a note on a category or block applies to every code beneath it). The second lists codes of this chapter named by Excludes1 Notes anywhere in the Tabular List, including notes in other chapters.
Questions About Excludes1 Notes
What does an Excludes1 note mean?
An Excludes1 note means “NOT CODED HERE!”: the excluded code should never be used at the same time as the code above the note. It is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition (Section I.A.12.a). The FY 2027 Tabular List has 5,411 of them; 5,284 name other codes, with 5,710 references to 3,528 distinct codes, categories and ranges.
Is there any exception to an Excludes1 note?
Yes: when the two conditions are unrelated to each other. The Guidelines’ example is F45.8, whose Excludes1 note names sleep related teeth grinding (G47.63). A patient with psychogenic dysmenorrhea (an inclusion term of F45.8) and teeth grinding may have both codes reported. If it is not clear whether the conditions are related, query the provider.
Related References
Source: FY 2027 ICD-10-CM Tabular List (CMS and NCHS) and the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2027, Section I.A. ICD List is not affiliated with CMS or NCHS.
