FY2027
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Excludes1 pair

K81- vs K82.4

K81 and K82.4 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 K82.4
cholesterolosis of gallbladder with cholecystitis (K81.-)
K81

Cholecystitis

Not billable
Chapter 11
Diseases of the digestive system
Section
K80-K87
K82.4

Cholesterolosis of gallbladder

Billable
Chapter 11
Diseases of the digestive system
Section
K80-K87
Use when the record says
  • Strawberry gallbladder
Indexed under
  • Cholesterolosis, cholesterosis (gallbladder)
  • Imbibition, cholesterol (gallbladder)
  • Cholesterol › imbibition of gallbladder
  • Polyp, polypus › cholesterol
  • Polyp, polypus › gallbladder

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