Q17.9 — Congenital malformation of ear, unspecified
Is Q17.9 billable?
Yes, but Q17.9 is an unspecified code. Q17.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, Q17.9 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 Q17.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
Q17.9 at a glance
| Code | Q17.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Congenital malformation of ear, unspecified |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does Q17.9 group to?
Q17.9 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 Q17.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to Q17.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Anomaly, anomalous › ear (congenital) (unspecified type)
- Anomaly, anomalous › tragus (congenital) (unspecified type)
- Malformation › ear (congenital)
- Deformity › ear › congenital
- Deformity › pinna, acquired › congenital
- Malformation › ear › external (congenital)
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to Q17.9.
- Congenital anomaly of ear NOS
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from Q17
The conditions below can never be reported together with Q17.9 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 17
The conditions below are not part of Q17.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, Q17.9 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 Q17.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, Q17.9 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 Q17.9 existed?
Q17.9 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.