2018/2019 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H61.23. Impacted cerumen, bilateral. 2016 2017 2018 2019 Billable/Specific Code Questionable As Admission Dx. H61.23 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
Method Determines Coding for Impacted Cerumen Removal If earwax is impacted it may be removed by one of two general methods: Lavage (irrigation) or instrumentation. For removal by lavage, the correct code is 69209 Removal impacted cerumen using irrigation/lavage, unilateral.
Impacted cerumen, right ear 1 H61.21 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. 2 The 2021 edition of ICD-10-CM H61.21 became effective on October 1, 2020. 3 This is the American ICD-10-CM version of H61.21 - other international versions of ICD-10 H61.21 may differ. More ...
Cerumen (ear wax) impaction; Impacted cerumen ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H61.23 [convert to ICD-9-CM]
380.4380.4 Impacted cerumen - ICD-9-CM Vol. 1 Diagnostic Codes.
Code 69210 is defined as “removal impacted cerumen (separate procedure), one or both ears.” Use this same code only once to indicate that the procedure was performed, whether it involved removal of impacted cerumen from one or both ears.
Like CPT 69210, (removal of impacted cerumen requiring instrumentation, unilateral) 69209 requires that a physician or qualified healthcare professional make the decision to irrigate/lavage. However, unlike 69210, 69209 allows removal to be carried out by clinical staff.
CPT code 69210, Removal impacted cerumen, (separate procedure) one or both ears.
You may not bill CPT code 69209 with CPT code 69210, “removal impacted cerumen requiring instrumentation, unilateral,” for the same ear. However, CPT codes 69209 and 69210 can be billed for the same encounter if impacted cerumen is removed from one ear using instrumentation and from the other ear using lavage.
A: The coder would report CPT code 69210 (removal impacted cerumen requiring instrumentation, unilateral) with modifier -50 (bilateral procedure) twice. Alternatively, the coder could report code 69210 twice with modifiers -LT (left side) and -RT (right side).
Impacted cerumen removal is the extraction of hardened or accumulated cerumen (ear wax) from the external auditory canal by mechanical means, such as irrigation or debridement.
69210, Removal impacted cerumen requiring instrumentation, unilateral.
Reporting 69209 CPT® code 69209 Removal impacted cerumen using irrigation/lavage, unilateral reports removal of impacted cerumen by irrigation and/or lavage.
The descriptors for codes 69209 & 69210 indicate that they are unilateral codes. For bilateral impacted cerumen removal, report these codes with modifier 50, Bilateral Procedure, appended. Note: Medicare does not allow the use of modifier 50 for impacted cerumen removal.
Nothing as far as billing would need to be reported for the unsuccessful removal in the other ear that day. Then on the next visit, if it qualifies for 69210, that would be billed alone for the other ear.
If documentation indicates that the patient had cerumen impaction and the removal required physician work and instrumentation such as wax curettes, forceps and/or suction rather than simple lavage (69209), modifier -59 may be appended to procedure 69210 to provide separate payment when an E/M code is billed by the same ...
The descriptors for codes 69209 & 69210 indicate that they are unilateral codes. For bilateral impacted cerumen removal, report these codes with modifier 50, Bilateral Procedure, appended. Note: Medicare does not allow the use of modifier 50 for impacted cerumen removal.
69210 requires the doctor perform the procedure and document instrumentation with diagnosis of cerumen impaction. 69209 can be done by the MA/Nurse as long as there is a cerumen impaction documented.
Payers typically will not cover simple, non-impacted earwax removal. This work is included in the E/M service and should be reported with an E/M code. Further, if earwax is removed by irrigation or lavage only, CPT 69210 should NOT be reported.
CPT® guidelines tell us, “For cerumen removal that is not impacted, see E/M service code …” such as new or established office patient (99201-99215), subsequent hospital care (99231-99233), etc. In other words: If the earwax isn’t impacted, removal is included in the documented evaluation and management (E/M) service reported and may not be separately billed.#N#Per the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), cerumen is impacted if one or more of the following conditions are present: 1 Cerumen impairs the examination of clinically significant portions of the external auditory canal, tympanic membrane, or middle ear condition; 2 Extremely hard, dry, irritative cerumen causes symptoms such as pain, itching, hearing loss, etc.; 3 Cerumen is associated with foul odor, infection, or dermatitis; or 4 Obstructive, copious cerumen cannot be removed without magnification and multiple instrumentations requiring physician skills.
Both 69209 and 69210 are unilateral procedures . For removal of impacted earwax from both ears, append modifier 50 Bilateral procedure to the appropriate code. In the example above of the 7-year-old child, if irrigation occurred in both ears, appropriate coding is 69209-50.#N#When billing Medicare payers, different bilateral rules apply for 69210. The 2016 Medicare National Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File assigns 69210 a “2” bilateral indicator. This means, for Medicare payers, the relative value units assigned to 69210 “are already based on the procedure being performed as a bilateral procedure.” In contrast to CPT® instructions, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) allows us to report only one unit of 69210 for a bilateral procedure. CMS does allow us to bill a bilateral procedure for cerumen removal by lavage using 69209-50.#N#Finally, note that some payers may stipulate “advanced practitioner skill” is necessary to report removal of impacted earwax (i.e., payers may require that a physician provide 69209, 69210). Query your individual payers to be certain of their requirements.
CPT® guidelines tell us, “for cerumen removal that is not impacted, see E/M service code…” such new or established office patient (99201-99215), subsequent hospital care (99231-99233), etc. In other words: If the earwax isn’t impacted, removal is not separately billed and is included in the documented E/M service reported.#N#Per the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), earwax is impacted if one or more of the following conditions are present: 1 Cerumen impairs the examination of clinically significant portions of the external auditory canal, tympanic membrane, or middle ear condition; 2 Extremely hard, dry, irritative cerumen causes symptoms such as pain, itching, hearing loss, etc; 3 Cerumen is associated with foul odor, infection, or dermatitis; or 4 Obstructive, copious cerumen cannot be removed without magnification and multiple instrumentations requiring physician skills.
If earwax is impacted it may be removed by one of two general methods: Lavage (irrigation) or instrumentation. For removal by lavage, the correct code is 69209 Removal impacted cerumen using irrigation/lavage, unilateral.
In other words: If the earwax isn’t impacted, removal is not separately billed and is included in the documented E/M service reported. Per the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), earwax is impacted if one or more of the following conditions are present: