2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q16.3Congenital malformation of ear ossicles

ICD-10-CM Codes›Q00-Q99›Q10-Q18›Q16

ICD-10-CM Q16.3
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Q16.3 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for congenital malformation of ear ossicles. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 154 through 156. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face, neck.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Q16.3
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Congenital malformation of ear ossicles
Short Description
Congenital malformation of ear ossicles
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Q16
Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing

Code Classification

ChapterQ00-Q99Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
SectionQ10-Q18Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face and neck
CategoryQ16Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing
This CodeQ16.3Congenital malformation of ear ossicles

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Q16.3 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Ankylosis of incudomallear articulation
  • Cleft palate with stapes fixation and oligodontia syndrome
  • Congenital abnormal shape of auditory ossicles
  • Congenital absence of ossicles of ear
  • Congenital ankylosis of incudomallear articulation
  • Congenital anomaly of ossicle of left ear
  • Congenital anomaly of ossicle of right ear
  • Congenital anomaly of ossicles of bilateral ears
  • Congenital anomaly of ossicles of ear
  • Congenital fusion of ossicles of ear
  • Congenital malformation of left middle ear
  • Congenital malformation of right middle ear
  • Lack of ossification of auditory ossicles
  • Oligodontia
  • Ossicular ankylosis
  • Stapes ankylosis with broad thumb and toe syndrome

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Congenital fusion of ear ossicles

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.

    • Absence(of) (organ or part) (complete or partial)
      • ear, congenital
        • middle, except ossicles
          • ossicles
    • Absence(of) (organ or part) (complete or partial)
      • ear, congenital
        • ossicles
    • Absence(of) (organ or part) (complete or partial)
      • incus (acquired)
        • congenital
    • Accessory(congenital)
      • auditory ossicles
    • Agenesis
      • incus
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • ear (external)
        • ossicles
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • middle ear
        • ossicles
    • Deformity
      • ear (acquired)
        • congenital (external)
          • middle
            • ossicles
    • Deformity
      • ear (acquired)
        • congenital (external)
          • ossicles
    • Deformity
      • middle ear (congenital)
        • ossicles
    • Distortion(s) (congenital)
      • ear (auricle) (external)
        • middle
          • ossicles
    • Distortion(s) (congenital)
      • ossicles, ear
    • Fusion, fused(congenital)
      • ear ossicles
    • Fusion, fused(congenital)
      • ossicles
        • auditory
    • Maldevelopment
      • middle ear
        • ossicles
    • Maldevelopment
      • ossicles
    • Malformation(congenital)
      • ear
        • middle
          • ossicles (fusion)
    • Malformation(congenital)
      • ear
        • ossicles
    • Malformation(congenital)
      • middle ear
        • ossicles
    • Malposition
      • congenital
        • ear (auricle) (external)
          • ossicles
    • Persistence, persistent(congenital)
      • arteria stapedia
    • Supernumerary(congenital)
      • auditory ossicles
    • Supernumerary(congenital)
      • ossicles, auditory

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR MAL005
Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face, neck
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • AXIN2-Associated Polyposis|ODCRCS|Oligodontia-Colorectal Cancer Syndrome

    a rare autosomal dominant syndrome caused by constitutional (germline) loss-of-function variants in axin2 gene. it is characterized by the presence of multiple colorectal adenomatous polyps and an increased risk of colorectal carcinoma. oligodontia and ectodermal dysplasia may or may not be present.

  • EDA wt Allele|ECTD1|ED1|ED1-A1|ED1-A2|EDA|EDA-A1|EDA-A2|EDA1|EDA2|Ectodermal Dysplasia 1, Anhidrotic Gene|Ectodysplasin A wt Allele|Ectodysplasin Gene|HED|HED1|ODT1|Oligodontia 1 Gene|STHAGX1|TNLG7C|XHED|XLHED

    human eda wild-type allele is located in the vicinity of xq13.1 and is approximately 423 kb in length. this allele, which encodes ectodysplasin-a protein, is involved in the morphogenesis of ectodermally derived tissues. mutation of the gene is associated with x-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia type 1 and x-linked, selective tooth agenesis type 1.

  • Oligodontia

    the congenital absence of six or more permanent teeth with the exclusion of third molars.

Patient EducationClinical

Birth Defects

A birth defect is a problem that happens while a baby is developing in the mother's body. Most birth defects happen during the first 3 months of pregnancy. One out of every 33 babies in the United States is born with a birth defect.

The full article covers:

  • What are birth defects?
  • What causes birth defects?
  • Who is at risk of having a baby with birth defects?
  • How are birth defects diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for birth defects?
  • Can birth defects be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Q16.3 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
744.04 Anomalies ear ossicles
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

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 Q16.3Overview

Is Q16.3 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report congenital malformation of ear ossicles on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does Q16.3 group to?

When congenital malformation of ear ossicles is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 154, 155, 156, with relative weights from 0.6911 to 1.5635 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is Q16.3 exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for congenital malformation of ear ossicles on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Q16.3?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, congenital malformation of ear ossicles converts to ICD-9-CM 744.04 (anomalies ear ossicles). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.