CodingQuestion 4 of 100

In the ICD-10-CM Tabular List, the note 'Excludes1' means:

a.The two conditions may be coded together when both are documented
b.An additional code should be assigned to fully describe the condition
c.The excluded code is an acceptable synonym for the listed code
d.The two conditions are mutually exclusive and should not be coded together

Explanation

An Excludes1 note is a 'not coded here' instruction indicating the two conditions cannot occur together and should never be reported on the same encounter for the same condition. In contrast, an Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is separate and may be coded additionally if the patient has both. Confusing the two notes is a common source of coding errors.

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