ICD-10 · PDGM grouping
H60 Otitis externa
All 72 codes in the H60 family, with the PDGM clinical group, comorbidity subgroup and primary-position rule CMS assigns, read from the CMS grouper crosswalk v07.2.26 and the CDC FY2027 code file.
ICD-10-CM FY2027 · CMS grouper v07.2.26
Codes in family
72
Can lead a claim
54
Cannot lead a claim
18
What CMS assigns to H60
54 of the 72 codes group to MMTA - Other; 18 are assigned no clinical group. None of the 72 is assigned a comorbidity subgroup. 54 of the 72 can lead a claim.
Every code in H60
Descriptions are CDC’s FY2027 wording; where CMS’s grouper abbreviates one, its form is shown beneath.
| Code | Description | Primary position | Clinical group | Comorbidity subgroup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H60.0 Abscess of external ear | ||||
| H60.00 | Abscess of external ear, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.01 | Abscess of right external ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.02 | Abscess of left external ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.03 | Abscess of external ear, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.1 Cellulitis of external ear | ||||
| H60.10 | Cellulitis of external ear, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.11 | Cellulitis of right external ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.12 | Cellulitis of left external ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.13 | Cellulitis of external ear, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.2 Malignant otitis externa | ||||
| H60.20 | Malignant otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimUnspecified diagnosis code not acceptable as principal diagnosis since there is a more specific code available that would further accurately identify the condition | None | None |
| H60.21 | Malignant otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.22 | Malignant otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.23 | Malignant otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.3 Other infective otitis externa | ||||
| H60.31 Diffuse otitis externa | ||||
| H60.311 | Diffuse otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.312 | Diffuse otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.313 | Diffuse otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.319 | Diffuse otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.32 Hemorrhagic otitis externa | ||||
| H60.321 | Hemorrhagic otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.322 | Hemorrhagic otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.323 | Hemorrhagic otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.329 | Hemorrhagic otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.33 Swimmer's ear | ||||
| H60.331 | Swimmer's ear, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.332 | Swimmer's ear, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.333 | Swimmer's ear, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.339 | Swimmer's ear, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.39 Other infective otitis externa | ||||
| H60.391 | Other infective otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.392 | Other infective otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.393 | Other infective otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.399 | Other infective otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.4 Cholesteatoma of external ear | ||||
| H60.40 | Cholesteatoma of external ear, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.41 | Cholesteatoma of right external ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.42 | Cholesteatoma of left external ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.43 | Cholesteatoma of external ear, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.5 Acute noninfective otitis externa | ||||
| H60.50 Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa | ||||
| H60.501 | Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.502 | Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.503 | Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.509 | Unspecified acute noninfective otitis externa, unspecified earCMS: Unsp acute noninfective otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.51 Acute actinic otitis externa | ||||
| H60.511 | Acute actinic otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.512 | Acute actinic otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.513 | Acute actinic otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.519 | Acute actinic otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.52 Acute chemical otitis externa | ||||
| H60.521 | Acute chemical otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.522 | Acute chemical otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.523 | Acute chemical otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.529 | Acute chemical otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.53 Acute contact otitis externa | ||||
| H60.531 | Acute contact otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.532 | Acute contact otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.533 | Acute contact otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.539 | Acute contact otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.54 Acute eczematoid otitis externa | ||||
| H60.541 | Acute eczematoid otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.542 | Acute eczematoid otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.543 | Acute eczematoid otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.549 | Acute eczematoid otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.55 Acute reactive otitis externa | ||||
| H60.551 | Acute reactive otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.552 | Acute reactive otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.553 | Acute reactive otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.559 | Acute reactive otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.59 Other noninfective acute otitis externa | ||||
| H60.591 | Other noninfective acute otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.592 | Other noninfective acute otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.593 | Other noninfective acute otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.599 | Other noninfective acute otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.6 Unspecified chronic otitis externa | ||||
| H60.60 | Unspecified chronic otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.61 | Unspecified chronic otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.62 | Unspecified chronic otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.63 | Unspecified chronic otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.8 Other otitis externa | ||||
| H60.8X Other otitis externa | ||||
| H60.8X1 | Other otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.8X2 | Other otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.8X3 | Other otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.8X9 | Other otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.9 Unspecified otitis externa | ||||
| H60.90 | Unspecified otitis externa, unspecified ear | Cannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical group | None | None |
| H60.91 | Unspecified otitis externa, right ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.92 | Unspecified otitis externa, left ear | Can lead a claim | A | None |
| H60.93 | Unspecified otitis externa, bilateral | Can lead a claim | A | None |
Sources: CMS HH PPS Grouper Software v07.2.26, effective 2026-10-01, for the clinical group, comorbidity subgroup, code-first conventions and primary-position flags; CDC NCHS ICD-10-CM FY2027 code descriptions for the family title and code wording. This is the crosswalk Medicare runs a claim through. Grouping also depends on admission source, timing, the OASIS functional items and the rest of the diagnosis list.
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