October 1 update. Our PDGM and ICD-10 tools now use the FY2027 code set: 190 codes added, 30 deleted, and no existing code changed clinical group.

See what changed

ICD-10 · PDGM grouping

Q16 Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing

All 7 codes in the Q16 family, with the PDGM clinical group, comorbidity subgroup and primary-position rule CMS assigns, read from the CMS grouper crosswalk v07.2.26 and the CDC FY2027 code file.

ICD-10-CM FY2027 · CMS grouper v07.2.26

Codes in family

7

Can lead a claim

0

Cannot lead a claim

7

What CMS assigns to Q16

None of the 7 codes is assigned a clinical group. None of the 7 is assigned a comorbidity subgroup. None can lead a claim.

Every code in Q16

Descriptions are CDC’s FY2027 wording; where CMS’s grouper abbreviates one, its form is shown beneath.

CodeDescriptionPrimary positionClinical groupComorbidity subgroup
Q16.0Congenital absence of (ear) auricleCannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical groupNoneNone
Q16.1Congenital absence, atresia and stricture of auditory canal (external)CMS: Congenital absence, atresia and stricture of auditory canalCannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical groupNoneNone
Q16.2Absence of eustachian tubeCannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical groupNoneNone
Q16.3Congenital malformation of ear ossiclesCannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical groupNoneNone
Q16.4Other congenital malformations of middle earCannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical groupNoneNone
Q16.5Congenital malformation of inner earCannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical groupNoneNone
Q16.9Congenital malformation of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspecifiedCMS: Congen malform of ear causing impairment of hearing, unspCannot lead a claimPrincipal diagnosis not assigned to a clinical groupNoneNone

Sources: CMS HH PPS Grouper Software v07.2.26, effective 2026-10-01, for the clinical group, comorbidity subgroup, code-first conventions and primary-position flags; CDC NCHS ICD-10-CM FY2027 code descriptions for the family title and code wording. This is the crosswalk Medicare runs a claim through. Grouping also depends on admission source, timing, the OASIS functional items and the rest of the diagnosis list.

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