J02 vs J06.0
J02 and J06.0 can never be reported together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note, meaning the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient — so exactly one of them is correct for any given encounter.
The official note, declared on J02
acute laryngopharyngitis (J06.0)
J02
Acute pharyngitis
Not billable
- Chapter 10
- Diseases of the respiratory system
- Section
- J00-J06
Use when the record says
- acute sore throat
J06.0
Acute laryngopharyngitis
Billable
- Chapter 10
- Diseases of the respiratory system
- Section
- J00-J06
Indexed under
- Laryngopharyngitis (acute)
- Pharyngolaryngitis (acute)
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