Q16 vs Q37
Q16 (Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing) compared with Q37 (Cleft palate with cleft lip), 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 Q37: “cleft lip and cleft palate (Q35-Q37)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| Q16Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing | Q37Cleft palate with cleft lip | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Non-billable header |
| Classification | Q00-Q99 — Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities (Q00-Q99) | Q00-Q99 — Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities (Q00-Q99) |
| Definition | Congenital malformations of ear causing impairment of hearing is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (Q16). | Cleft palate with cleft lip is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (Q37). |
| Includes | — | cheilopalatoschisis |
| Use additional code | — | code to identify associated malformation of the nose (Q30.2) |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources