FY2027
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Excludes1 pair

N03.5 vs N03.A

N03.5 and N03.A 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 N03.5
Chronic nephritic syndrome with C3 glomerulonephritis (N03.A)
N03.5

Chronic nephritic syndrome with diffuse mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis

Billable
Chapter 14
Diseases of the genitourinary system
Section
N00-N08
Use when the record says
  • Chronic nephritic syndrome with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, types 1 and 3, or NOS
Indexed under
  • Nephritis, nephritic › chronic › with › diffuse › mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis
N03.A

Chronic nephritic syndrome with C3 glomerulonephritis

Billable
Chapter 14
Diseases of the genitourinary system
Section
N00-N08
Use when the record says
  • Chronic nephritic syndrome with C3 glomerulopathy
Indexed under
  • Nephritis, nephritic › chronic › with › C3 › glomerulonephritis
  • Nephritis, nephritic › chronic › with › C3 › glomerulopathy

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