2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code P96.3Wide cranial sutures of newborn

ICD-10-CM Codes›P00–P96›P90-P96›P96

ICD-10-CM P96.3
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

P96.3 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for wide cranial sutures of newborn. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). Coders also document this condition as gap between cranial sutures. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified and unspecified perinatal conditions.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
P96.3
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Wide cranial sutures of newborn
Short Description
Wide cranial sutures of newborn
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
P96
Other conditions originating in the perinatal period

Code Classification

ChapterP00–P96Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period
SectionP90-P96Other disorders originating in the perinatal period
CategoryP96Other conditions originating in the perinatal period
This CodeP96.3Wide cranial sutures of newborn

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Gap between cranial sutures
  • Wide cranial sutures

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Neonatal craniotabes

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Craniotabes(cause unknown)
      • neonatal
    • Wide cranial sutures, newborn

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR PNL013
Other specified and unspecified perinatal conditions
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Common Infant and Newborn Problems

It is hard when your baby is sick. Common health problems in babies include colds, coughs, fevers, and vomiting. Babies also commonly have skin problems, like diaper rash or cradle cap.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert P96.3 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
779.89 Perinatal condition NEC
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About P96.3Overview

Is P96.3 (Other conditions originating in the perinatal period) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report wide cranial sutures of newborn on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of P96.3?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, wide cranial sutures of newborn converts to ICD-9-CM 779.89 (perinatal condition NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.