Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified ear

Not billableICD-10-CM diagnosis code.

This code exists but cannot be submitted on its own. It groups the more specific codes beneath it.

A category header for its whole life, FY2016 onwards. It has never been valid for submission on its own.

Submit one of these 3 more specific codes instead:

S00.429A Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified ear, initial encounter
S00.429D Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified ear, subsequent encounter
S00.429S Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified ear, sequela

This code requires a seventh character. See the rule below.

What has happened to this code

Every change the publisher made, from 2014 to now. Entries marked draft are from the pre-implementation releases: ICD-10 took effect on 1 October 2015, so nothing before FY2016 was ever valid on a claim.

FY2014 Added to the draft code set draft Blister (nonthermal) of unspecified ear

Official coding rules

Published by CDC for FY2027. A rule attached to a category binds every code beneath it, so the rules inherited from this code's ancestors are shown with the code they come from.

Inherited from S00 Superficial injury of head

Seventh character required

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S00

Excludes1 - never coded here

diffuse cerebral contusion (S06.2-)
focal cerebral contusion (S06.3-)
injury of eye and orbit (S05.-)
open wound of head (S01.-)

Inherited from the S00-S09 section Injuries to the head (S00-S09)

Excludes2 - not included here

burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
effects of foreign body in ear (T16)
effects of foreign body in larynx (T17.3)
effects of foreign body in mouth NOS (T18.0)
effects of foreign body in nose (T17.0-T17.1)
effects of foreign body in pharynx (T17.2)
effects of foreign body on external eye (T15.-)
frostbite (T33-T34)
insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)

Code also

for any associated infection

Includes

injuries of ear
injuries of eye
injuries of face [any part]
injuries of gum
injuries of jaw
injuries of oral cavity
injuries of palate
injuries of periocular area
injuries of scalp
injuries of temporomandibular joint area
injuries of tongue
injuries of tooth

How CDC's index refers to this code

Wording from the official alphabetic index. Much of it appears nowhere in the code description, which is why a search for the everyday phrase so often finds nothing.

Blister > pinna
Blister > auricle
Blister > head > ear
Injury > ear > blister
Blister > auditory canal
Injury > superficial NEC > blister
Blister > tympanum, tympanic membrane
Blister > ear

Codes in the same group

Code	Description	Status
S00.421	Blister (nonthermal) of right ear	Not billable
S00.422	Blister (nonthermal) of left ear	Not billable