ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code
Q18.9Congenital malformation of face and neck, unspecified
Q18.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for congenital malformation of face and neck, unspecified. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.
Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data
About Q18.9
Q18.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for congenital malformation of face and neck, unspecified. It belongs to category Q18 (other congenital malformations of face and neck), block Q10-Q18 (congenital malformations of eye, ear, face and neck) and chapter 17 (congenital malformations, deformations, chromosomal abnormalities, and genetic disorders). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Within Q18, choose Q18.9 (Congenital malformation of face and neck, unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: sinus, fistula and cyst of branchial cleft (Q18.0), preauricular sinus and cyst (Q18.1), other branchial cleft malformations (Q18.2), Webbing of neck (Q18.3), Macrostomia (Q18.4), Microstomia (Q18.5), Macrocheilia (Q18.6), Microcheilia (Q18.7) and 1 more.
It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 606 (Minor Skin Disorders with MCC, relative weight 1.5728) and DRG 607 (Minor Skin Disorders without MCC, relative weight 0.8772), in MDC 09 (Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.
It is exempt from present-on-admission (POA) reporting, so no POA indicator is required.
It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.
Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 744.9 (unspecified congenital anomalies of face and neck).
Coding notes
- Congenital anomaly NOS of face and neck
Notes that apply from higher levels
Instructions written at a parent level also apply to Q18.9.
› From Q18 Other congenital malformations of face and neck
Broader instructions also apply from Q10-Q18 Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face and neck and Chapter 17: Congenital malformations, deformations, chromosomal abnormalities, and genetic disorders.
Alphabetic index entries
8 entriesTerms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to Q18.9.
- Anomaly, anomalous (congenital) (unspecified type) › cheek
- Anomaly, anomalous (congenital) (unspecified type) › chin
- Anomaly, anomalous (congenital) (unspecified type) › face
- Anomaly, anomalous (congenital) (unspecified type) › neck (any part)
- Deformity › cheek (acquired) › congenital
- Deformity › chin (acquired) › congenital
- Deformity › face (acquired) › congenital
- Deformity › neck (acquired) › congenital
MS-DRG v44.0 grouping
All DRGs →Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.
MDC 09 · Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Converter →- 744.9Unspecified congenital anomalies of face and neckexact
From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.
Code history
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
- 2027
- FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
- No changes since FY2016.
Common questions about Q18.9
Is Q18.9 billable?
- Yes. Q18.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can Q18.9 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict Q18.9 as a principal diagnosis.
Is Q18.9 a CC or MCC?
- No. Q18.9 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.
What DRG does Q18.9 group to?
- Q18.9 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 606 (Minor Skin Disorders with MCC) and MS-DRG 607 (Minor Skin Disorders without MCC). Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.
What is the ICD-9 code for Q18.9?
- The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map Q18.9 to ICD-9-CM 744.9.