A facility coder reviews an ICD-10-CM Tabular Excludes2 note under a respiratory code for a condition the record also documents. How should the Excludes2 note be applied?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
Excludes2 is the friendly cousin of Excludes1. It basically says, “this other problem is not packed inside this code,” so if the patient really has both, you can report both. Do not slam the brakes the way you would for Excludes1.
Full Explanation
An Excludes2 note indicates that the excluded condition is not part of the code above the note, yet both conditions may be coded together when documented. This differs from Excludes1, which prohibits coding the listed conditions together. Correct application depends on the documentation supporting each condition independently and on following Official Guidelines rather than treating every excludes note as a hard ban.