Excludes1 pair

B91 vs G14

B91 and G14 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 B91
postpolio syndrome (G14)
B91

Sequelae of poliomyelitis

Billable
Chapter 1
Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
Section
B90-B94
Indexed under
  • Sequelae › poliomyelitis (acute)
G14

Postpolio syndrome

Billable
Chapter 6
Diseases of the nervous system
Section
G10-G14
Use when the record says
  • postpolio myelitic syndrome
Indexed under
  • Postpolio syndrome (myelitic)
  • Syndrome › postpolio (myelitic)

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