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H60.541 vs H60.549

H60.541 (Acute eczematoid otitis externa, right ear) compared with H60.549 (Acute eczematoid otitis externa, unspecified ear), from the official CMS tabular data. H60.541 and H60.549 code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

H60.541
Right
Acute eczematoid otitis externa, right ear
H60.549
Unspecified
Acute eczematoid otitis externa, unspecified ear

Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

These codes share a category and title and differ only in the side affected. The documentation decides which applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Source: ICD-10-CM tabular list (laterality variant derived from the code title)

Can these codes be reported together?

Same condition, opposite side. H60.541 and H60.549 name the same condition on opposite sides of the body.

Same category and title, differing only in which side is affected — the documentation decides which one applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Side by side

H60.541Acute eczematoid otitis externa, right earH60.549Acute eczematoid otitis externa, unspecified ear
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationH60-H95 — Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process (H60-H95)H60-H95 — Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process (H60-H95)
DefinitionAcute eczematoid otitis externa, right ear is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (H60.541).Acute eczematoid otitis externa, unspecified ear is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (H60.549).

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources