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Q05.0 vs Q16

Q05.0 (Cervical spina bifida with hydrocephalus) compared with Q16 (Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing), from the official CMS tabular data. Both may be reported when both conditions are documented (Excludes2).

Can these codes be reported together?

Yes, when both are documented. Q16 carries an Excludes2 note covering Q05.0: “congenital malformation of cervical spine (Q05.0, Q05.5, Q67.5, Q76.0-Q76.4)”

Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.

Side by side

Q05.0Cervical spina bifida with hydrocephalusQ16Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing
Billing statusBillableNon-billable header

Report instead: Q16.0, Q16.1, Q16.2, Q16.3, Q16.4

ClassificationQ00-Q99 — Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities (Q00-Q99)Q00-Q99 — Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
DefinitionCervical spina bifida with hydrocephalus is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (Q05.0).Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (Q16).
Includes
hydromeningocele (spinal)
meningocele (spinal)
meningomyelocele
myelocele
Use additional code
code for any associated paraplegia (paraparesis) (G82.2-)

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources