Q16.9 — Congenital malformation of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspecified
Is Q16.9 billable?
Yes, but Q16.9 is an unspecified code. Q16.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, Q16.9 is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting Q16.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
Q16.9 at a glance
| Code | Q16.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Congenital malformation of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspecified |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does Q16.9 group to?
Q16.9 sits in MDC 03 and helps define the logic of 3 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 154Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with MCCmedical
- 155Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses with CCmedical
- 156Other Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Diagnoses without CC/MCCmedical
How is Q16.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to Q16.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Absence › ear, congenital (of) (organ or part) (complete or partial)
- Agenesis › ear
- Anomaly, anomalous › ear › causing impairment of hearing (congenital) (unspecified type)
- Hypoplasia, hypoplastic › auditory canal › causing impairment of hearing
- Malformation › ear › causing impairment of hearing (congenital)
- Anomaly, anomalous › auricle › ear › causing impairment of hearing (congenital) (unspecified type)
- Malformation › ear › external › causing impairment of hearing (congenital)
- Malposition › congenital › auditory canal › causing impairment of hearing
- Malposition › congenital › auricle › causing impairment of hearing
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to Q16.9.
- Congenital absence of ear NOS
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from Q16
The conditions below can never be reported together with Q16.9 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 Q16.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, Q16.9 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 Q16.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, Q16.9 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)
How long has Q16.9 existed?
Q16.9 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.
Which codes are confused with Q16.9?
ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with Q16.9 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.