2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q76.0Spina bifida occulta
ICD-10-CM Codes›Q00-Q99›Q65-Q79›Q76
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- POA Exempt
- Chronic Condition
Q76.0 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for spina bifida occulta. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 91 through 93. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Musculoskeletal congenital conditions.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Present on Admission (POA)Billing
Q76.0 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Congenital malformations and deformations of the musculoskeletal system (Q65-Q79).
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Spina bifida occulta
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to Q76.0: its own notes plus those printed at Q76 and Chapter 17. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.
Excludes1
Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
Excludes2
Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- Codes from this chapter are not for use on maternal records
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.
Referenced in Other NotesGuidance
Instructional notes printed at other codes that name Q76.0, its category, or a range that includes it.
Excludes1 2
These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming Q76.0: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
Excludes2 1
These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming Q76.0: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.
- Block Q10-Q18 Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face and neck
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Spina Bifida Occulta
a common congenital midline defect of fusion of the vertebral arch without protrusion of the spinal cord or meninges. the lesion is also covered by skin. l5 and s1 are the most common vertebrae involved. the condition may be associated with an overlying area of hyperpigmented skin, a dermal sinus, or an abnormal patch of hair. the majority of individuals with this malformation are asymptomatic although there is an increased incidence of tethered cord syndrome and lumbar spondylosis. (from joynt, clinical neurology, 1992, ch55, p34)
Patient EducationClinical
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is a neural tube defect - a type of birth defect of the brain, spine, or spinal cord. It happens if the spinal column of the fetus doesn't close completely during the first month of pregnancy. This can damage the nerves and spinal cord. Screening tests during pregnancy can check for spina bifida.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert Q76.0 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About Q76.0Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for spina bifida occulta?
The ICD-10-CM code for spina bifida occulta is Q76.0 (sometimes written as Q760). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is Q76.0 (Congenital malformations of spine and bony thorax) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report spina bifida occulta on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does Q76.0 group to?
When spina bifida occulta is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 91, 92, 93, with relative weights from 0.7783 to 1.7050 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is Q76.0 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 spina bifida occulta on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Congenital malformations and deformations of the musculoskeletal system (Q65-Q79) range of the CMS exempt list.
Can Q76.0 be reported with a code from Q05?
Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on Q76.0 lists "meningocele (spinal) (Q05.-)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
