K44 vs Q79.0
K44 (Diaphragmatic hernia) compared with Q79.0 (Congenital diaphragmatic hernia), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.
Can these codes be reported together?
No — do not report together. K44 carries an Excludes1 note covering Q79.0: “congenital diaphragmatic hernia (Q79.0)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
Side by side
| K44Diaphragmatic hernia | Q79.0Congenital diaphragmatic hernia | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Billable |
| Classification | K00-K95 — Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95) | Q00-Q99 — Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities (Q00-Q99) |
| Definition | Diaphragmatic hernia is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (K44). | Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (Q79.0). |
| Includes | hiatus hernia (esophageal) (sliding) paraesophageal hernia acquired hernia congenital [except diaphragmatic or hiatus] hernia | — |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources