ICD-10 code for Wax impacted ear

The ICD-10-CM code for Wax impacted ear is H61.20 (Impacted cerumen, unspecified ear). The official index lists 4 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on H61.20.

Within H61.2, choose H61.20 (unspecified ear) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: right ear (H61.21), left ear (H61.22) and bilateral (H61.23).

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.