Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: I can’t find the 2016 ICD-10 PCS code for 69436. Can you help?

West Virginia Subscriber

Answer: You should only need the ICD-10 PCS for billing inpatient facility charges. Several codes might be appropriate diagnoses in conjunction with 69436 (Tympanostomy [requiring insertion of ventilating tube], general anesthesia), depending on the circumstances. Options include:

• 099500Z – Drainage of right middle ear with drainage device, open approach
• 09950ZZ – Drainage of right middle ear, open approach
• 099600Z – Drainage of left middle ear with drainage device, open approach
• 09960ZZ – Drainage of left middle ear, open approach
• 099700Z-099780Z – Drainage of right tympanic membrane with drainage device…
• 09970ZZ-09978ZZ – Drainage of right tympanic membrane…
• 099800Z-099880Z – Drainage of left tympanic membrane, with drainage device… 
• 09980ZZ-09988ZZ – Drainage of left tympanic membrane….