Excludes1 pair
J68.1 vs J81-
J68.1 and J81 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 J68.1
pulmonary edema (acute) (chronic) NOS (J81.-)
J68.1
Pulmonary edema due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
Billable
- Chapter 10
- Diseases of the respiratory system
- Section
- J60-J70
Use when the record says
- Chemical pulmonary edema (acute) (chronic)
Indexed under
- Silo-fillers' disease › pulmonary edema
- Disease, diseased › silo-filler's › pulmonary edema
- Edema, edematous › lung › chemical (acute)
- Edema, edematous › lung › chemical › chronic
- Edema, edematous › lung › due to › chemicals, fumes or vapors (inhalation)
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