2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q40.8Other specified congenital malformations of upper alimentary tract

ICD-10-CM Codes›Q00-Q99›Q38-Q45›Q40

ICD-10-CM Q40.8
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Q40.8 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other specified congenital malformations of upper alimentary tract. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 393 through 395. The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as acephalostomia. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Digestive congenital anomalies.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Q40.8
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other specified congenital malformations of upper alimentary tract
Short Description
Oth congenital malformations of upper alimentary tract
Parent Code
Q40
Other congenital malformations of upper alimentary tract

Code Classification

ChapterQ00-Q99Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
SectionQ38-Q45Other congenital malformations of the digestive system
CategoryQ40Other congenital malformations of upper alimentary tract
This CodeQ40.8Other specified congenital malformations of upper alimentary tract

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Q40.8 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.

  • Acephalostomia
  • Congenital absence of gastric muscle
  • Congenital absence of stomach
  • Congenital asymmetry of tonsils
  • Tonsil asymmetry

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)
      • alimentary tract (congenital)
        • upper
    • Absence(of) (organ or part) (complete or partial)
      • digestive organ (s) or tract, congenital
        • upper
    • Agenesis
      • alimentary tract (complete) (partial) NEC
        • upper
    • Agenesis
      • digestive organ (s) or tract (complete) (partial) NEC
        • upper
    • Atresia, atretic
      • alimentary organ or tract NEC
        • upper
    • Hypoplasia, hypoplastic
      • alimentary tract, congenital
        • upper
    • Hypoplasia, hypoplastic
      • digestive organ (s) or tract NEC
        • upper (congenital)
    • Imperfect
      • closure (congenital)
        • alimentary tract NEC
          • upper
    • Malformation(congenital)
      • alimentary tract
        • upper
          • specified type NEC
    • Malposition
      • congenital
        • alimentary tract
          • upper
    • Malposition
      • congenital
        • digestive organ or tract NEC
          • upper
    • Patulous
      • alimentary tract
        • upper

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR MAL002
Digestive congenital anomalies
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 Q40.8 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
750.8 Upper GI anomaly NEC
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 Q40.8Overview

Is Q40.8 (Other congenital malformations of upper alimentary tract) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other specified congenital malformations of upper alimentary tract on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does Q40.8 group to?

When other specified congenital malformations of upper alimentary tract is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 393, 394, 395, with relative weights from 0.6490 to 1.5993 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is Q40.8 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 other specified congenital malformations of upper alimentary tract on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Q40.8?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other specified congenital malformations of upper alimentary tract converts to ICD-9-CM 750.8 (upper GI anomaly NEC). 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.