Excludes1 pair
K51- vs K62.6
K51 and K62.6 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 K62.6
ulcerative colitis (K51.-)
K62.6
Ulcer of anus and rectum
Billable
- Chapter 11
- Diseases of the digestive system
- Section
- K55-K64
Use when the record says
- Solitary ulcer of anus and rectum
- Stercoral ulcer of anus and rectum
Indexed under
- Stercoraceous, stercoral ulcer › anus or rectum
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative › anorectal
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative › anus (sphincter) (solitary)
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative › rectum (sphincter) (solitary)
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative › solitary, anus or rectum (sphincter)
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