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H60.60 vs H60.61

H60.60 (Unspecified chronic otitis externa, unspecified ear) compared with H60.61 (Unspecified chronic otitis externa, right ear), from the official CMS tabular data. H60.60 and H60.61 code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

H60.60
Unspecified
Unspecified chronic otitis externa, unspecified ear
H60.61
Right
Unspecified chronic otitis externa, right 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. H60.60 and H60.61 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

H60.60Unspecified chronic otitis externa, unspecified earH60.61Unspecified chronic otitis externa, right 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)
DefinitionUnspecified chronic otitis externa, unspecified ear is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (H60.60).Unspecified chronic otitis externa, right ear is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (H60.61).

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