Excludes1 pair
M72.6 vs M72.8
M72.6 and M72.8 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 M72.8
necrotizing fasciitis (M72.6)
M72.6
Necrotizing fasciitis
Billable
- Chapter 13
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
- Section
- M70-M79
Indexed under
- Fasciitis › necrotizing
- Fasciitis › infective › necrotizing
M72.8
Other fibroblastic disorders
Billable
- Chapter 13
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
- Section
- M70-M79
Use when the record says
- Abscess of fascia
- Fasciitis NEC
- Other infective fasciitis
Indexed under
- Abscess › fascia
- Contraction, contracture, contracted › fascia (lata) (postural)
- Fasciitis › infective
- Fasciitis › specified NEC
- Fasciitis › traumatic (old)
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