Excludes1 pair
N89.5 vs N99.2
N89.5 and N99.2 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 N89.5
postprocedural adhesions of vagina (N99.2)
N89.5
Stricture and atresia of vagina
Billable
- Chapter 14
- Diseases of the genitourinary system
- Section
- N80-N98
Use when the record says
- Vaginal adhesions
- Vaginal stenosis
Indexed under
- Adhesions, adhesive › vagina (chronic)
- Band › vagina
- Closure › vagina
- Contraction, contracture, contracted › vagina (outlet)
- Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive › vagina
N99.2
Postprocedural adhesions of vagina
Billable
- Chapter 14
- Diseases of the genitourinary system
- Section
- N99
Indexed under
- Adhesions, adhesive › postoperative › vagina
- Adhesions, adhesive › vagina › postoperative
- Cicatrix › vagina › postoperative
- Scar, scarring › vagina › postoperative
- Complication › genitourinary › postprocedural › vaginal › adhesions
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