An Excludes2 note appears between a symptom code and a definitive diagnosis category in the Tabular List. What does Excludes2 indicate for physician coding?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
Excludes2 is “not baked into this code,” not “pick only one.” If the symptom and the definitive diagnosis are both really there, you can report both—unlike the stricter Excludes1 fork in the road.
Full Explanation
Excludes2 means “not included here.” When both the indexed condition and the excluded condition are present and documented, both codes may be assigned. This differs from Excludes1, which generally prohibits coding the conditions together. The note is not limited to external causes and does not nullify a definitive diagnosis.