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Q03

Non-Billable (Header)

Congenital hydrocephalus

Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)

What This Code Means

Q03 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for congenital hydrocephalus. Q03 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for congenital malformations, deformations, chromosomal abnormalities, and genetic disorders (q00-qa0), within the section covering congenital malformations of the nervous system (q00-q07).

Header codes like Q03 cannot be reported on claims directly — they organize child codes that share clinical context but the actual diagnosis must be coded to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation. Coders should look at Q03's child codes and select the one that matches the patient's documented presentation, since payers reject header codes submitted as the primary diagnosis. For risk adjustment workflows, header codes never contribute to a Medicare Advantage member's RAF score on their own; only billable child codes that happen to map to a payment HCC affect risk-adjusted plan payments.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for Q03 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Includes

  • hydrocephalus in newborn

Excludes 1 — Do NOT code together

  • Arnold-Chiari syndrome, type II (Q07.0-)
  • acquired hydrocephalus (G91.-)
  • hydrocephalus due to congenital toxoplasmosis (P37.1)
  • hydrocephalus with spina bifida (Q05.0-Q05.4)

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

Q03Congenital hydrocephalus
Q03Congenital hydrocephalus

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