H62.40 — Otitis externa in other diseases classified elsewhere, unspecified ear
Is H62.40 billable?
Yes, but H62.40 is an unspecified code. H62.40 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, H62.40 is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting H62.40 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
H62.40 at a glance
| Code | H62.40 |
|---|---|
| Description | Otitis externa in other diseases classified elsewhere, unspecified ear |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
What Medicare edits apply to H62.40?
The Medicare Code Editor screens inpatient claims before they are grouped. These edits name H62.40 directly.
This code describes a manifestation of an underlying disease. The underlying condition must be sequenced before it, so it can never be the principal or first-listed diagnosis.
Which MS-DRGs does H62.40 group to?
H62.40 sits in MDC 03 and helps define the logic of 3 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 154Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with MCCmedical
- 155Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with CCmedical
- 156Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses without CC/MCCmedical
How is H62.40 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under H62.4, the nearest indexed parent of H62.40. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- OtomycosisNEC (diffuse)
- Ear › tropical NEC
- Erysipelas › external ear (gangrenous) (infantile) (newborn) (phlegmonous) (suppurative)
- Impetigo › external ear (any organism) (any site) (circinate) (contagiosa) (simplex) (vulgaris)
- Otitis › externa › mycotic NEC (acute)
- Otitis › externa › tropical NEC (acute)
- Otitis › externa › in › erysipelas (acute)
- Otitis › externa › in › impetigo (acute)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from H62.4
The conditions below can never be reported together with H62.40 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Code first — inherited from H62.4
The underlying condition below must be sequenced before H62.40. H62.40 describes a manifestation and cannot be the principal or first-listed diagnosis.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 8
The conditions below are not part of H62.40, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, H62.40 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
How long has H62.40 existed?
H62.40 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.