2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q35.9Cleft palate, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Codes›Q00-Q99›Q35-Q37›Q35

ICD-10-CM Q35.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Q35.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for cleft palate, unspecified. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 157 through 159. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Cleft lip or palate.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Q35.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Cleft palate, unspecified
Short Description
Cleft palate, unspecified
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Q35
Cleft palate

Code Classification

ChapterQ00-Q99Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
SectionQ35-Q37Cleft lip and cleft palate
CategoryQ35Cleft palate
This CodeQ35.9Cleft palate, unspecified

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Q35.9 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.

  • Abruzzo Erickson syndrome
  • Acrocardiofacial syndrome
  • Ankyloblepharon
  • Ankyloblepharon filiforme adnatum
  • Ankyloblepharon filiforme adnatum with cleft palate syndrome
  • Bilateral cleft of primary palate
  • Bilateral congenital malformation of external ears
  • Bilateral microtia with deafness and cleft palate syndrome
  • Cholestasis with pigmentary retinopathy and cleft palate syndrome
  • Cleft of primary palate
  • Cleft palate
  • Cleft palate lateral synechia syndrome
  • Cleft palate with short stature and vertebral anomaly syndrome
  • Cleft palate with stapes fixation and oligodontia syndrome
  • Cleft palate, congenital heart defect, intellectual disability syndrome
  • Cleft palate, large ears, small head syndrome
  • Congenital ankyloblepharon
  • Congenital anomaly of macula
  • Congenital cleft hand
  • Congenital coloboma of macula lutea
  • Congenital fusion of ossicles of ear
  • Congenital hallux valgus
  • Congenital mixed conductive and sensorineural hearing loss
  • Congenital omphalocele
  • Congenital retrognathism
  • Congenital umbilical hernia
  • Facial dysmorphism, cleft palate, loose skin syndrome
  • Genitopalatocardiac syndrome
  • Holzgreve syndrome
  • Incomplete bilateral cleft palate
  • Incomplete cleft palate
  • Incomplete closure of velopharyngeal apparatus due to anatomical abnormality
  • Incomplete closure of velopharyngeal apparatus due to cleft palate
  • Lethal omphalocele with cleft palate syndrome
  • Macrosomia, microphthalmia, cleft palate syndrome
  • Macrotia
  • Macular coloboma, cleft palate, hallux valgus syndrome
  • Microcephalus cleft palate syndrome
  • Microtia
  • Mixed conductive AND sensorineural hearing loss
  • Oligodontia
  • Poikiloderma, alopecia, retrognathism, cleft palate syndrome
  • Potter's facies
  • Pure gonadal dysgenesis
  • Pure gonadal dysgenesis 46,XY
  • Reardon Hall Slaney syndrome
  • Recession of bone
  • Renal agenesis
  • Retinal pigment deposits
  • Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, craniosynostosis, cleft palate, cataract and intellectual disability syndrome
  • Submucous cleft palate
  • Tongue tie
  • X-linked cleft palate and ankyloglossia
  • X-linked sensorineural hearing loss

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Cleft palate 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.

    • Cleft(congenital)
      • palate
    • Perforation, perforated(nontraumatic) (of)
      • palate

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR MAL006
Cleft lip or palate
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Cleft Palate

    congenital fissure of the soft and/or hard palate, due to faulty fusion.

  • Palatal Obturators

    appliances that close a cleft or fissure of the palate.

  • Cleft Palate

    a congenital abnormality consisting of a fissure in the midline of the hard and/or soft palate; it is the result of the failure of the two sides of the palate to fuse during embryonic development.

  • Palatorrhaphy|Cleft Palate Repair|Cleft palate repair

    the surgical repair of a cleft palate by approximation of the intact tissues surrounding the defect.

  • TBX22 wt Allele|ABERS|CLPA|CPX|Cleft Palate and/or Ankyloglossia Gene|T-Box 22 wt Allele|TBXX|dJ795G23.1

    human tbx22 wild-type allele is located in the vicinity of xq21.1 and is approximately 21 kb in length. this allele, which encodes t-box transcription factor tbx22 protein, plays a role in palate development. mutation of the gene is associated with x-linked cleft palate and ankyloglossia.

  • Bilateral Renal Agenesis

    a congenital abnormality characterized by the absence of both kidneys.

  • Renal Agenesis

    a congenital abnormality characterized by the absence of one or both kidneys.

  • Unilateral Renal Agenesis|Congenital Single Kidney|Congenital Solitary Kidney|Congenital Solitary Kidney

    a congenital abnormality characterized by the presence of only one kidney.

  • Congenital Hallux Valgus

    hallux valgus that is present at birth.

  • 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

Cleft Lip and Palate

Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a baby's lip or mouth do not form properly. They happen early during pregnancy. A baby can have a cleft lip, a cleft palate, or both.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Q35.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
749.00 Cleft palate NOS
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 Q35.9Overview

Is Q35.9 (Cleft palate) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does Q35.9 group to?

When cleft palate, unspecified is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 157, 158, 159, with relative weights from 0.7085 to 1.7168 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is Q35.9 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 cleft palate, unspecified on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Q35.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, cleft palate, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 749.00 (cleft palate NOS). 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.