Skip to main content

H60.591 vs H60.599

H60.591 (Other noninfective acute otitis externa, right ear) compared with H60.599 (Other noninfective acute otitis externa, unspecified ear), from the official CMS tabular data. H60.591 and H60.599 code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

H60.591
Right
Other noninfective acute otitis externa, right ear
H60.599
Unspecified
Other noninfective acute 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. H60.591 and H60.599 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

H60.591Other noninfective acute otitis externa, right earH60.599Other noninfective acute 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)
DefinitionOther noninfective acute otitis externa, right ear is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (H60.591).Other noninfective acute otitis externa, unspecified ear is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (H60.599).

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