Is H71.9 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No. H71.9 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.

Where does H71.9 sit in the tabular list?

Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60-H95), in the block Diseases of middle ear and mastoid (H65-H75).

H71.9

H71.9 — Unspecified cholesteatoma

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

H71.9 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for unspecified cholesteatoma. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below.

Risk adjustment

H71.9 does not map to an HCC and does not risk-adjust under CMS-HCC V28. That is normal — most ICD-10 codes do not. It still needs to be coded correctly; it just will not move a RAF score.

Code to one of these instead H71.9

4 child codes. Green means billable.

H71.90Unspecified cholesteatoma, unspecified ear
H71.91Unspecified cholesteatoma, right ear
H71.92Unspecified cholesteatoma, left ear
H71.93Unspecified cholesteatoma, bilateral

Related codes at this level

Codes that share H71. If H71.9 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.

H71.0Cholesteatoma of attic
H71.1Cholesteatoma of tympanum
H71.2Cholesteatoma of mastoid
H71.3Diffuse cholesteatosis

Questions about H71.9

Is H71.9 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: No. H71.9 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
Where does H71.9 sit in the tabular list?: Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60-H95), in the block Diseases of middle ear and mastoid (H65-H75).