FY2027
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Excludes1 pair

J69- vs J95.4

J69 and J95.4 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 J69
postprocedural pneumonitis (J95.4)
J69

Pneumonitis due to solids and liquids

Not billable
Chapter 10
Diseases of the respiratory system
Section
J60-J70
J95.4

Chemical pneumonitis due to anesthesia

Billable
Chapter 10
Diseases of the respiratory system
Section
J95
Use when the record says
  • Mendelson's syndrome
  • Postprocedural aspiration pneumonia
Indexed under
  • Mendelson's syndrome (due to anesthesia)
  • Pneumonitis › postanesthetic
  • Pneumonitis › postoperative
  • Pneumonia › aspiration › postprocedural
  • Pneumonitis › chemical › due to anesthesia

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