Excludes1 pair

N95.1 vs Z78.0

N95.1 and Z78.0 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 N95.1
asymptomatic menopausal state (Z78.0)
N95.1

Menopausal and female climacteric states

Billable
Chapter 14
Diseases of the genitourinary system
Section
N80-N98
Use when the record says
  • Symptoms such as flushing, sleeplessness, headache, lack of concentration, associated with natural (age-related) menopause
Indexed under
  • Climacteric › symptoms (female)
  • Flushing › menopausal
  • Hot flashes › menopausal
  • Menopause, menopausal › symptomatic
  • Sleeplessness › menopausal
Z78.0

Asymptomatic menopausal state

Billable
Chapter 21
Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
Section
Z77-Z99
Use when the record says
  • Menopausal state NOS
  • Postmenopausal status NOS
Indexed under
  • Menopause, menopausal (asymptomatic) (state)
  • State › climacteric, female
  • State › menopausal

These two codes sit in different chapters of the Tabular List, which is usually the clearest signal that they describe different underlying processes rather than different degrees of the same one.

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