A54.41 vs M49
A54.41 (Gonococcal spondylopathy) compared with M49 (Spondylopathies in diseases classified elsewhere), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.
Can these codes be reported together?
No — do not report together. M49 carries an Excludes1 note covering A54.41: “gonococcal spondylitis (A54.41)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
Side by side
| A54.41Gonococcal spondylopathy | M49Spondylopathies in diseases classified elsewhere | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Non-billable header |
| Classification | A00-B99 — Certain Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (A00-B99) | M00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99) |
| Definition | Gonococcal spondylopathy is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (A54.41). | Spondylopathies in diseases classified elsewhere is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (M49). |
| Includes | — | curvature of spine in diseases classified elsewhere deformity of spine in diseases classified elsewhere kyphosis in diseases classified elsewhere scoliosis in diseases classified elsewhere |
| Code first | — | underlying disease, such as: brucellosis (A23.-) |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources