Impacted cerumen, left ear. H61.22 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2019 edition of ICD-10-CM H61.22 became effective on October 1, 2018.
Other specified disorders of ear, unspecified ear. H93.8X9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2020 edition of ICD-10-CM H93.8X9 became effective on October 1, 2019.
H61.22 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM H61.22 became effective on October 1, 2021. This is the American ICD-10-CM version of H61.22 - other international versions of ICD-10 H61.22 may differ.
The 2021 edition of ICD-10-CM H61.2 became effective on October 1, 2020. This is the American ICD-10-CM version of H61.2 - other international versions of ICD-10 H61.2 may differ. Code annotations containing back-references to H61.2: hearing loss as classified in H90.-
The removal of impacted cerumen (69209, 69210, G0268) is only medically necessary when reported with a diagnosis of impacted cerumen (ICD-10 codes H61. 2–H61.
380.4 Impacted cerumen - ICD-9-CM Vol. 1 Diagnostic Codes.
A: The coder would report CPT code 69210 (removal impacted cerumen requiring instrumentation, unilateral) with modifier -50 (bilateral procedure) twice.
Cerumen impaction is defined as an accumulation of cerumen that causes symptoms or prevents assessment of the ear canal, tympanic membrane, or audiovestibular system; complete obstruction is not required. 3.
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.
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.
Additionally, the descriptor of 69210 has been clarified to reflect that the code is inherently unilateral.
Reporting 69210 Documentation should indicate the equipment used to provide the service. CPT® considers this procedure unilateral and states, “For bilateral procedure, report 69210 with modifier 50.” Contradictory to CPT®, Medicare considers this a bilateral procedure and prices it as such.
Billing Tips for 69210 Often, depending on the provider, ear lavage is not separately billable and can fall within the scope of the E&M (evaluation and management) visit code. 69210 requires manual removal of IMPACTED cerumen.
Cerumen impaction is one of the most common reasons patients seek medical care for ear-related problems. Although excessive cerumen is present in 10 percent of children and more than 30 percent of older and cognitively impaired patients, cerumen impaction is underdiagnosed and likely undertreated.
Impacted cerumen (se-ROO-men) is when earwax (cerumen) builds up in the ear and blocks the ear canal; it can cause temporary hearing loss and ear pain.
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.
H61.22 is a billable ICD code used to specify a diagnosis of impacted cerumen, left ear. A 'billable code' is detailed enough to be used to specify a medical diagnosis.
This means that while there is no exact mapping between this ICD10 code H61.22 and a single ICD9 code, 380.4 is an approximate match for comparison and conversion purposes.