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

ICD-10 Q04.9

Billable / Specific HCC v28: 72

Congenital malformation of brain, unspecified

Q04
Block
4
Synonyms
33
LCDs
8
Payer Policies
0
Linked CPTs

About ICD-10-CM Q04.9

ICD-10-CM code Q04.9 represents Congenital malformation of brain, unspecified. This is a billable/specific code in the Congenital Malformations chapter (block Q04). The 2026 edition of ICD-10-CM Q04.9 became effective on October 1, 2025.

Coding Tips for Q04.9

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

HCC capture: document with MEAT each year

Q04.9 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.

Inclusion Terms / Approximate Synonyms

Clinical terms and conditions classified under Q04.9. Per CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular 2026.

  • Congenital anomaly NOS of brain
  • Congenital deformity NOS of brain
  • Congenital disease or lesion NOS of brain
  • Multiple anomalies NOS of brain, congenital

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 Q04.9

Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) from CMS MACs that list Q04.9 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 Q04.9.

8 policies

2 Aetna

Orthopedic Casts, Braces and Splints - Medical Clinical Policy Bulletins | Aetna
Policy ID: CPB-0009
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) of the Spine
Policy ID: CPB-0236

4 Cigna

Duplex Scan of Extracranial Arteries - (0542)
Policy ID: MM_0542
Neuropsychological Testing - (EN0258)
Policy ID: EN_MM_0258
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 Q04.9

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

No procedure linkages on file for Q04.9

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 Q04.9 to ICD-9-CM

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

ICD-10ICD-9Mapping Flags
Q04.9 7429 10000

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

ICD-10 Q04.9, Billing FAQ

Is ICD-10 code Q04.9 billable? +

Yes, Q04.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can appear as a primary or secondary diagnosis on claims.

What other names or terms map to Q04.9? +

ICD-10 Q04.9 includes: Congenital anomaly NOS of brain; Congenital deformity NOS of brain; Congenital disease or lesion NOS of brain, and 1 more clinical synonyms.

Does Q04.9 affect Medicare Advantage HCC risk adjustment? +

Yes. Q04.9 maps to CMS-HCC v28 category 72. Capture this diagnosis annually for accurate Medicare Advantage risk score.

What ICD-9 codes does Q04.9 map to? +

Per CMS GEMs, Q04.9 maps to ICD-9 codes: 7429. 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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