2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q37.9Unspecified cleft palate with unilateral cleft lip

ICD-10-CM Codes›Q00-Q99›Q35-Q37›Q37

ICD-10-CM Q37.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Q37.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified cleft palate with unilateral cleft lip. 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
Q37.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Unspecified cleft palate with unilateral cleft lip
Short Description
Unspecified cleft palate with unilateral cleft lip
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Q37
Cleft palate with cleft lip

Code Classification

ChapterQ00-Q99Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
SectionQ35-Q37Cleft lip and cleft palate
CategoryQ37Cleft palate with cleft lip
This CodeQ37.9Unspecified cleft palate with unilateral cleft lip

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Q37.9 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.

  • Benign neoplasm of sacrococcygeal region
  • Central complete cleft palate
  • Central complete cleft palate with cleft lip
  • Central incomplete cleft palate with cleft lip
  • Cheilognathoprosoposchisis
  • Cheilognathoschisis
  • Cheilognathouranoschisis
  • Cleft lip and cleft palate with intestinal malrotation and cardiopathy syndrome
  • Cleft lip and palate, craniofacial dysmorphism, congenital heart defect, hearing loss syndrome
  • Cleft palate with cleft lip
  • Cleft palate with left cleft lip
  • Cleft palate with right cleft lip
  • Cleft upper lip, upper jaw AND palate
  • Complete cleft hard and soft palate
  • Complete cleft of hard palate
  • Complete cleft of soft palate
  • Congenital coloboma of iris
  • Contracture with ectodermal dysplasia and orofacial cleft syndrome
  • Dysraphism, cleft lip and palate, limb reduction defect syndrome
  • Hartsfield syndrome
  • Lipoma of lower back
  • Lowry Yong syndrome
  • Pilotto syndrome
  • Thomas syndrome
  • Uveal coloboma with cleft lip and palate and intellectual disability syndrome
  • Zlotogora Ogur syndrome

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Cleft palate with cleft lip 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)
      • lip (unilateral)
        • with cleft palate
    • Cleft(congenital)
      • palate
        • with cleft lip (unilateral)

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

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 Q37.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
749.20 Cleft palate & lip 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 Q37.9Overview

Is Q37.9 (Cleft palate with cleft lip) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does Q37.9 group to?

When unspecified cleft palate with unilateral cleft lip 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 Q37.9 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 unspecified cleft palate with unilateral cleft lip on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Q37.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified cleft palate with unilateral cleft lip converts to ICD-9-CM 749.20 (cleft palate & lip 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.