Q16.0 Congenital absence of (ear) auricle

The ICD-10-CM code for Congenital absence of (ear) auricle is Q16.0 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.

Classification

Chapter

17: Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-QA0)

Section

Q10-Q18: Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face and neck (Q10-Q18)

Category Q16

8 codes (7 billable)

FY2026 Status

Stable since FY2024

Also Known As

ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to Q16.0:

• Agenesis › auricle (ear)
• Absence (of) (organ or part) (complete or partial) › auricle (ear), congenital
• Absence (of) (organ or part) (complete or partial) › ear, congenital › external
• Agenesis › ear › auricle
• Absence (of) (organ or part) (complete or partial) › ear, congenital › auricle
• Malformation (congenital) › ear › external › causing impairment of hearing › absence of › auricle

U.S. Hospital Utilization

• An estimated 55 U.S. inpatient stays in 2022 included Q16.0 among the documented diagnoses.

Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.

Official Coding Guidelines

POA indicator for congenital conditions/anomalies and Q00-Q99 exception

Congenital conditions and anomalies Assign “Y” for congenital conditions and anomalies except for categories Q00- Q99, Congenital anomalies, which are on the exempt list. Congenital conditions are always considered present on admission.

Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026

References

• CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Code Set and Guidelines, FY2026
• CDC/NCHS — ICD-10-CM Files and Browser Tool
• AHRQ — HCUP National Inpatient Sample, Frequencies by Diagnosis Code (2016–2023)