ICD-10-CM 2026 · Effective October 1, 2025

ICD-10 Q03.9

Billable / Specific HCC v28: 72

Congenital hydrocephalus, unspecified

Q03
Block
0
Synonyms
33
LCDs
4
Payer Policies
0
Linked CPTs

About ICD-10-CM Q03.9

ICD-10-CM code Q03.9 represents Congenital hydrocephalus, unspecified. This is a billable/specific code in the Congenital Malformations chapter (block Q03). The 2026 edition of ICD-10-CM Q03.9 became effective on October 1, 2025.

Coding Tips for Q03.9

Specialist guidance from the PayerReady Medical Coding Team. Specificity warnings, HCC capture rules, sequencing notes.

HCC capture: document with MEAT each year

Q03.9 is a CMS-HCC v28 risk-adjustment code (category 72). To count for the patient Risk Adjustment Factor (RAF), document the diagnosis with MEAT language each calendar year: Monitored, Evaluated, Assessed, Treated. A diagnosis on the problem list alone does not satisfy CMS RADV audit standards. Include the diagnosis in the assessment with current status and current treatment plan.

Medicare Advantage HCC Impact

CMS-HCC v28 (current)
Category 72
ESRD-HCC
Category 72
RxHCC (Part D)
Category 72

Capture this diagnosis annually for accurate risk adjustment. Missed HCC captures are the #1 revenue leak in Medicare Advantage risk programs.

Medicare LCD Coverage for Q03.9

Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) from CMS MACs that list Q03.9 as a covered diagnosis.

33 LCDs

Showing top 10 of 33 total . Click a CPT for full coverage scope.

CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Services: Communication Disorders
Article ID: 54111, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1064 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 92524 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Services: Communication Disorders
Article ID: 54111, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1064 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 96112 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Services: Communication Disorders
Article ID: 54111, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1064 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 92521 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Services: Communication Disorders
Article ID: 54111, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1064 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 97130 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Services: Communication Disorders
Article ID: 54111, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1064 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 97129 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Services: Communication Disorders
Article ID: 54111, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1064 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 92597 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Services: Communication Disorders
Article ID: 54111, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1064 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 97110 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Services: Communication Disorders
Article ID: 54111, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1064 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 97533 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Services: Communication Disorders
Article ID: 54111, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1064 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 96110 →
CMS LCD: Billing and Coding: Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Services: Communication Disorders
Article ID: 54111, Effective: 2025-10-01 00:00:00, 1064 covered, 0 non-covered
CPT 92522 →

Commercial Payer Coverage

Coverage policies from major commercial payers referencing Q03.9.

4 policies

2 Cigna

Serum Folate and Red Blood Cell Folate Testing - (0567)
Policy ID: MM_0567
Transthoracic Echocardiography in Children - (0523)
Policy ID: MM_0523

2 Medicare

Billing and Coding: Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Services: Communication Disorders
Policy ID: ART-54111
Billing and Coding: CT of the Head
Policy ID: ART-56612

CPT Codes Commonly Billed with Q03.9

Procedures frequently paired with this diagnosis based on PayerReady's Dx↔Px linkage data.

No procedure linkages on file for Q03.9

We don't have CPT pairings indexed for this specific code yet. Use the CPT search above to find common procedures, or check your payer's published medical policy for code-specific guidance.

Convert Q03.9 to ICD-9-CM

Per CMS General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.

ICD-10ICD-9Mapping Flags
Q03.9 7423 10000

Flags format (5 digits): Approximate · No Map · Combination · Scenario · Choice List. Source: CMS 2017 GEMs (final version).

ICD-10 Q03.9, Billing FAQ

Is ICD-10 code Q03.9 billable? +

Yes, Q03.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can appear as a primary or secondary diagnosis on claims.

Does Q03.9 affect Medicare Advantage HCC risk adjustment? +

Yes. Q03.9 maps to CMS-HCC v28 category 72. Capture this diagnosis annually for accurate Medicare Advantage risk score.

What ICD-9 codes does Q03.9 map to? +

Per CMS GEMs, Q03.9 maps to ICD-9 codes: 7423. Useful for legacy data review and historical claim analysis.

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Reviewed by the PayerReady Medical Coding Team

Verified against the CMS 2026 code set on May 31, 2026.

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