Excludes1 pair
J05.0 vs J38-
J05.0 and J38 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 J38
obstructive laryngitis (acute) (J05.0)
J05.0
Acute obstructive laryngitis [croup]
Billable
- Chapter 10
- Diseases of the respiratory system
- Section
- J00-J06
Use when the record says
- Obstructive laryngitis (acute) NOS
- Obstructive laryngotracheitis NOS
Indexed under
- Croup, croupous (catarrhal) (infectious) (inflammatory) (nondiphtheritic)
- Angina › croupous
- Angina › membranous
- Angina › trachealis
- Laryngitis › obstructive
J38
Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified
Not billable
- Chapter 10
- Diseases of the respiratory system
- Section
- J30-J39
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