FY2027
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Excludes1 pair

A15.6 vs A15.7

A15.6 and A15.7 are not coded together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note — the two conditions are not expected to occur together, so exactly one of them is normally correct for a given encounter. The Official Guidelines carve out one exception: if the two conditions are clearly unrelated to each other, both may be reported.

The official note, declared on A15.6
primary respiratory tuberculosis (A15.7)
A15.6

Tuberculous pleurisy

Billable
Chapter 1
Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
Section
A15-A19
Use when the record says
  • Tuberculosis of pleura Tuberculous empyema
Indexed under
  • Empyema › tuberculous
  • Hemothorax › tuberculous NEC
  • Hydropneumothorax › tuberculous NEC
  • Hydrothorax › tuberculous NEC (non primary)
  • Pleurisy › tuberculous (with effusion) (non primary)
A15.7

Primary respiratory tuberculosis

Billable
Chapter 1
Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
Section
A15-A19
Indexed under
  • Epituberculosis (with atelectasis) (allergic)
  • Ghon tubercle, primary infection
  • Complex › primary, tuberculous
  • Infection, infected, infective › Ghon tubercle, primary
  • Tubercle › Ghon, primary infection

Excludes1 is not always absolute: where two conditions covered by the note are genuinely unrelated, CMS guidance permits reporting both. Document the reasoning rather than assuming it. More on Excludes1 vs Excludes2 · FY2027