Q16 — Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing
Is Q16 billable?
No — Q16 is a non-billable header code. Q16 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 7 billable codes beneath Q16.
Billable codes under this header
- Q16.0Congenital absence of (ear) auricle
- Q16.1Congenital absence, atresia and stricture of auditory canal (external)
- Q16.2Absence of eustachian tube
- Q16.3Congenital malformation of ear ossicles
- Q16.4Other congenital malformations of middle ear
- Q16.5Congenital malformation of inner ear
- Q16.9Congenital malformation of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspecified
Q16 at a glance
| Code | Q16 |
|---|---|
| Description | Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Excludes1 — never code together
The conditions below can never be reported together with Q16 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- congenital deafness (H90.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 17
The conditions below are not part of Q16, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, Q16 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- inborn errors of metabolism (E70-E88)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Q10-Q18
The conditions below are not part of Q16, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, Q16 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- cleft lip and cleft palate (Q35-Q37)
- congenital malformation of cervical spine (Q05.0, Q05.5, Q67.5, Q76.0-Q76.4)
- congenital malformation of larynx (Q31.-)
- congenital malformation of lip NEC (Q38.0)
- congenital malformation of nose (Q30.-)
- congenital malformation of parathyroid gland (Q89.2)
- congenital malformation of thyroid gland (Q89.2)
What codes fall under Q16? (7)
- Q16.0Congenital absence of (ear) auricle
- Q16.1Congenital absence, atresia and stricture of auditory canal (external)
- Q16.2Absence of eustachian tube
- Q16.3Congenital malformation of ear ossicles
- Q16.4Other congenital malformations of middle ear
- Q16.5Congenital malformation of inner ear
- Q16.9Congenital malformation of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspecified
How long has Q16 existed?
Q16 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.