J61 vs J92.0
J61 and J92.0 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 J61
pleural plaque with asbestosis (J92.0)
J61
Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers
Billable
- Chapter 10
- Diseases of the respiratory system
- Section
- J60-J70
Use when the record says
- Asbestosis
Indexed under
- Amianthosis
- Asbestosis (occupational)
- Pneumoconiosis › asbestos (due to) (inhalation of)
- Pneumoconiosis › mineral fibers NEC (due to) (inhalation of)
- Fibrosis, fibrotic › lung › with › asbestosis
J92.0
Pleural plaque with presence of asbestos
Billable
- Chapter 10
- Diseases of the respiratory system
- Section
- J90-J94
Indexed under
- Plaque › pleural › with asbestos (s)
- Thickening › pleura › with asbestos
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