FY2027
MenuClose
Excludes1 pair

A15- vs J61

A15 and J61 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 J61
pneumoconiosis with tuberculosis, any type in A15 (J65)
A15

Respiratory tuberculosis

Not billable
Chapter 1
Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
Section
A15-A19
J61

Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers

Billable
Chapter 10
Diseases of the respiratory system
Section
J60-J70
Use when the record says
  • Asbestosis
Indexed under
  • Amianthosis
  • Asbestosis (occupational)
  • Pneumoconiosis › asbestos
  • Pneumoconiosis › mineral fibers NEC
  • Fibrosis, fibrotic › lung › with › asbestosis

These two codes sit in different chapters of the Tabular List, which is usually the clearest signal that they describe different underlying processes rather than different degrees of the same one.

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