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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDiseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and ThroatDRG 155-other-ear-nose-mouth-and-throat-diagnoses-with-cc
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    Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    DRG 155 encompasses other ear, nose, mouth, and throat diagnoses with Complication or Comorbidity and represents inpatient encounters with added clinical complexity. It matters for inpatient reimbursement because the Complication or Comorbidity designation increases the relative payment weight and affects Medicare payment for the stay.

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    DRG 155 Overview

    DRG 155 covers hospital cases involving other ear, nose, mouth, and throat diagnoses that include at least one Complication or Comorbidity. These cases span non-major head and neck conditions where additional clinical complexity affects resource use during an inpatient stay. This Diagnosis-Related Group matters for Medicare payment because the presence of Complication or Comorbidity increases relative reimbursement to reflect higher expected costs. Accurate clinical coding and documentation determine placement into this Diagnosis-Related Group and thus influence Medicare inpatient payment.

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    Clinical Trials

    • Acute procedural and perioperative safety studies: Trials focusing on short-term outcomes and complication rates associated with emergent or planned ENT procedures (for example urgent foreign body removal, abscess drainage, or surgical management of complicated sinusitis or epistaxis) in hospitalized adults and children with comorbidities classified as CC. These studies enroll inpatients presenting with acute ENT conditions to evaluate immediate procedural success, perioperative infection or bleeding rates, and length of stay; they are relevant because procedural complications and extended hospitalization drive higher costs and influence DRG payments. Providers and payers use this evidence to refine perioperative care pathways, allocate resources for high-risk patients, and benchmark expected utilization for cases captured under DRG 155.
    • Comparative effectiveness and diagnostic strategy trials: Studies comparing diagnostic approaches (for example advanced imaging versus flexible endoscopy protocols) or medical management strategies (such as different antibiotic regimens or corticosteroid use) for complex non-malignant ENT diagnoses with complicating conditions. These trials recruit hospitalized patients who present with atypical or complicated ear, nose, throat diagnoses and aim to determine which diagnostic algorithms or initial treatments lead to faster clinical resolution, fewer complications, or reduced need for invasive interventions. Results inform clinicians and payers about optimal care pathways that can shorten inpatient stays, reduce unnecessary testing, and improve value-based decision making for cases categorized under this DRG.
    • Post-discharge outcomes and readmission prevention studies: Prospective cohort studies and intervention trials that examine post-discharge recovery, functional outcomes (hearing, airway patency, swallowing), and the effectiveness of discharge planning or outpatient follow-up programs in reducing 30-day readmissions for patients treated for complicated ENT diagnoses. These studies typically follow inpatients with comorbid conditions (such as diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease, or anticoagulation) who are at higher risk for recurrent infection, bleeding, or airway issues, assessing impacts on readmission rates, emergency visits, and patient-reported outcomes. Findings are directly relevant to hospital administrators and payers seeking to lower readmissions, improve transitional care, and optimize reimbursement and quality metrics associated with DRG 155.

    Related Codes

    135-SINUS-AND-MASTOID-PROCEDURES-WITH-CC-MCC

    Sinus and Mastoid Procedures with CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    136-SINUS-AND-MASTOID-PROCEDURES-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

    Sinus and Mastoid Procedures without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    137-MOUTH-PROCEDURES-WITH-CC-MCC

    Mouth Procedures with CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    138-MOUTH-PROCEDURES-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

    Mouth Procedures without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    139-SALIVARY-GLAND-PROCEDURES

    Salivary Gland Procedures: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    140-MAJOR-HEAD-AND-NECK-PROCEDURES-WITH-MCC

    Major Head and Neck Procedures with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    141-MAJOR-HEAD-AND-NECK-PROCEDURES-WITH-CC

    Major Head and Neck Procedures with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    142-MAJOR-HEAD-AND-NECK-PROCEDURES-WITHOUT-CC-MCC

    Major Head and Neck Procedures without CC/MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    143-OTHER-EAR-NOSE-MOUTH-AND-THROAT-O-R-PROCEDURES-WITH-MCC

    Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat O.R. Procedures with MCC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    144-OTHER-EAR-NOSE-MOUTH-AND-THROAT-O-R-PROCEDURES-WITH-CC

    Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat O.R. Procedures with CC: Inpatient Reimbursement Overview

    Showing 1–10 of 24

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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