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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

H68.109Unspecified obstruction of Eustachian tube, unspecified ear

✓ Billable / specific

H68.109 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for unspecified obstruction of eustachian tube, unspecified ear. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About H68.109

H68.109 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified obstruction of Eustachian tube, unspecified ear. It belongs to category H68 (eustachian salpingitis and obstruction), block H65-H75 (diseases of middle ear and mastoid) and chapter 8 (diseases of the ear and mastoid process). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within H68.10, choose H68.109 (unspecified ear) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: right ear (H68.101), left ear (H68.102) and bilateral (H68.103).

It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 154 (Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with MCC, relative weight 1.5921), DRG 155 (Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with CC, relative weight 0.9322) and DRG 156 (Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.6659), in MDC 03 (Diseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 381.60 (obstruction of Eustachian tube, unspecified).

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to H68.109.

Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 8: Diseases of the ear and mastoid process.

MS-DRG v44.0 grouping

All DRGs →

Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.

ICD-9-CM equivalent

Converter →
  • 381.60Obstruction of Eustachian tube, unspecifiedapproximate

From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about H68.109

Is H68.109 billable?

Yes. H68.109 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can H68.109 be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict H68.109 as a principal diagnosis.

Is H68.109 a CC or MCC?

No. H68.109 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.

What DRG does H68.109 group to?

H68.109 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 154 (Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with MCC), MS-DRG 155 (Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with CC) and MS-DRG 156 (Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses without CC/MCC). Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.

What is the ICD-9 code for H68.109?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map H68.109 to ICD-9-CM 381.60.