2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q34.9Congenital malformation of respiratory system, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Codes›Q00-Q99›Q30-Q34›Q34

ICD-10-CM Q34.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Q34.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for congenital malformation of respiratory system, unspecified. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 205 through 206. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as congenital abnormality of nose and nasopharynx. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Respiratory congenital malformations.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Q34.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Congenital malformation of respiratory system, unspecified
Short Description
Congenital malformation of respiratory system, unspecified
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Q34
Other congenital malformations of respiratory system

Code Classification

ChapterQ00-Q99Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
SectionQ30-Q34Congenital malformations of the respiratory system
CategoryQ34Other congenital malformations of respiratory system
This CodeQ34.9Congenital malformation of respiratory system, unspecified

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Q34.9 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.

  • Congenital abnormality of nose and nasopharynx
  • Congenital anomaly of lower respiratory system
  • Congenital anomaly of upper respiratory system
  • Congenital bronchopulmonary foregut malformation
  • Congenital malformation of the respiratory system

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Congenital absence of respiratory system
  • Congenital anomaly of respiratory system 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)
      • respiratory organ NOS
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • respiratory system
    • Defect, defective
      • respiratory system, congenital
    • Deformity
      • respiratory system (congenital)
    • Development
      • incomplete
        • respiratory system
    • Malformation(congenital)
      • respiratory system

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR MAL007
Respiratory congenital malformations
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 Q34.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
748.9 Respiratory anomaly NOS
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 Q34.9Overview

Is Q34.9 (Other congenital malformations of respiratory system) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does Q34.9 group to?

When congenital malformation of respiratory system, unspecified is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 205, 206, with relative weights from 0.9411 to 1.8310 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is Q34.9 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 respiratory system, unspecified on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Q34.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, congenital malformation of respiratory system, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 748.9 (respiratory anomaly NOS). 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.