2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q16.9Congenital malformation of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Codes›Q00-Q99›Q10-Q18›Q16

ICD-10-CM Q16.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Q16.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for congenital malformation of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspecified. 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
Q16.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Congenital malformation of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspecified
Short Description
Congen malform of ear causing impairment of hearing, unsp
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 CodeQ16.9Congenital malformation of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspecified

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Q16.9 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.

  • Bilateral congenital malformation of external ears
  • Bilateral impairment of hearing of ears co-occurrent and due to congenital ear malformation
  • Branchiogenic deafness syndrome
  • Congenital absence of ear
  • Congenital anomaly of bilateral external ears with impairment of hearing
  • Congenital anomaly of ear with impairment of hearing
  • Congenital anomaly of left external ear with impairment of hearing
  • Congenital anomaly of right external ear with impairment of hearing
  • Congenital malformation of left ear with impairment of hearing
  • Congenital malformation of right ear with impairment of hearing
  • Ear anomalies with hearing impairment
  • Ear pit syndrome
  • Non-syndromic genetic hearing loss
  • Postlingual non-syndromic genetic deafness
  • Prelingual non-syndromic genetic deafness

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Congenital absence of ear NOS

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
    • Agenesis
      • ear
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • auricle
        • ear
          • causing impairment of hearing
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • ear (external)
        • causing impairment of hearing
    • Hypoplasia, hypoplastic
      • auditory canal
        • causing impairment of hearing
    • Malformation(congenital)
      • ear
        • causing impairment of hearing
    • Malformation(congenital)
      • ear
        • external
          • causing impairment of hearing
    • Malposition
      • congenital
        • auditory canal
          • causing impairment of hearing
    • Malposition
      • congenital
        • auricle (ear)
          • causing impairment of hearing

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

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 Q16.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
744.00 Ear anom NOS/impair hear
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
744.09 Ear anom NEC/impair hear
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 Q16.9Overview

Is Q16.9 a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does Q16.9 group to?

When congenital malformation of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspecified 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 Q16.9 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 causing impairment of hearing, unspecified on inpatient claims.

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

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, congenital malformation of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 744.00 (ear anom NOS/impair hear) and 744.09 (ear anom NEC/impair hear). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

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.