Excludes1 pair
Z48- vs Z48.1
Z48 and Z48.1 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 Z48.1
encounter for attention to dressings and sutures (Z48.0-)
Z48
Encounter for other postprocedural aftercare
Not billable
- Chapter 21
- Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
- Section
- Z40-Z53
Z48.1
Encounter for planned postprocedural wound closure
Billable
- Chapter 21
- Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
- Section
- Z40-Z53
Indexed under
- Aftercare › following surgery › delayed wound closure (planned)
- Aftercare › following surgery › planned wound closure
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