J38.0 — Paralysis of vocal cords and larynx
Is J38.0 billable?
No — J38.0 is a non-billable header code. J38.0 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 3 billable codes beneath J38.0.
J38.0 at a glance
| Code | J38.0 |
|---|---|
| Description | Paralysis of vocal cords and larynx |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to J38.0.
- Laryngoplegia
- Paralysis of glottis
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from J38
The conditions below can never be reported together with J38.0 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 10
Report an additional code alongside J38.0 to fully describe the condition. J38.0 is sequenced first.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 10
The conditions below are not part of J38.0, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J38.0 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
What codes fall under J38.0? (3)
How long has J38.0 existed?
J38.0 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.