FY2027
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Excludes1 pair

K44- vs Q79.0

K44 and Q79.0 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 K44
congenital diaphragmatic hernia (Q79.0)
K44

Diaphragmatic hernia

Not billable
Chapter 11
Diseases of the digestive system
Section
K40-K46
Use when the record says
  • hiatus hernia (esophageal) (sliding)
  • paraesophageal hernia
Q79.0

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Billable
Chapter 17
Congenital malformations, deformations, chromosomal abnormalities, and genetic disorders
Section
Q65-Q79
Indexed under
  • Hernia, hernial › diaphragm, diaphragmatic › congenital
  • Defect, defective › diaphragm › congenital › with hernia
  • Defect, defective › diaphragm › congenital › gross (with hernia)

These two codes sit in different chapters of the Tabular List, which is usually the clearest signal that they describe different underlying processes rather than different degrees of the same one.

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