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T20.211A vs T20.212A

T20.211A (Burn of second degree of right ear [any part, except ear drum], initial encounter) compared with T20.212A (Burn of second degree of left ear [any part, except ear drum], initial encounter), from the official CMS tabular data. T20.211A and T20.212A code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

T20.211A
Right
Burn of second degree of right ear [any part, except ear drum], initial encounter
T20.212A
Left
Burn of second degree of left ear [any part, except ear drum], initial encounter

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. T20.211A and T20.212A 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

T20.211ABurn of second degree of right ear [any part, except ear drum], initial encounterT20.212ABurn of second degree of left ear [any part, except ear drum], initial encounter
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationS00-T88 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causesS00-T88 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
DefinitionBurn of second degree of right ear [any part, except ear drum], initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (T20.211A).Burn of second degree of left ear [any part, except ear drum], initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (T20.212A).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T20The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T20
Includes
burns and corrosions of first degree [erythema]
burns and corrosions of second degree [blisters][epidermal loss]
burns and corrosions of third degree [deep necrosis of underlying tissue] [full- thickness skin loss]
burns and corrosions of first degree [erythema]
burns and corrosions of second degree [blisters][epidermal loss]
burns and corrosions of third degree [deep necrosis of underlying tissue] [full- thickness skin loss]
Use additional code
external cause code to identify the source, place and intent of the burn (X00-X19, X75-X77, X96-X98, Y92)
code from category T31 or T32 to identify extent of body surface involved
external cause code to identify the source, place and intent of the burn (X00-X19, X75-X77, X96-X98, Y92)
code from category T31 or T32 to identify extent of body surface involved

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