Excludes1 pair

B52- vs B53.1

B52 and B53.1 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 B53.1
Malaria due to simian plasmodia with Plasmodium malariae (B52.-)
B52

Plasmodium malariae malaria

Not billable
Chapter 1
Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
Section
B50-B64
Use when the record says
  • mixed infections of Plasmodium malariae with other Plasmodium species, except Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax
B53.1

Malaria due to simian plasmodia

Billable
Chapter 1
Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
Section
B50-B64
Indexed under
  • Monkey malaria
  • Simian malaria
  • Malaria, malarial › Plasmodium › simian

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