FY2027
MenuClose
Excludes1 pair

J30- vs J31.0

J30 and J31.0 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 J30
rhinitis NOS (J31.0)
J30

Vasomotor and allergic rhinitis

Not billable
Chapter 10
Diseases of the respiratory system
Section
J30-J39
Use when the record says
  • spasmodic rhinorrhea
J31.0

Chronic rhinitis

Billable
Chapter 10
Diseases of the respiratory system
Section
J30-J39
Use when the record says
  • Atrophic rhinitis (chronic)
  • Granulomatous rhinitis (chronic)
  • Hypertrophic rhinitis (chronic)
  • Obstructive rhinitis (chronic)
  • Ozena
  • Purulent rhinitis (chronic)
  • Rhinitis (chronic) NOS
  • Ulcerative rhinitis (chronic)
Indexed under
  • Ozena
  • Rhinitis (atrophic) (catarrhal) (chronic) (croupous) (fibrinous) (granulomatous) (hyperplastic) (hypertrophic) (membranous) (obstructive) (purulent) (suppurative) (ulcerative)
  • Atrophy, atrophic › rhinitis
  • Catarrh, catarrhal › chronic
  • Congestion, congestive › catarrhal

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