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G04.89 vs G31.2

G04.89 (Other myelitis) compared with G31.2 (Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol), from the official CMS tabular data.

Current data releases:ICD-10-CM FY2027 · ICD-10-PCS FY2027 · HCPCS October 2026 · MS-DRG v44 · Medicare Code Editor v44.0 · NCCI PTP Q4 2026 · MUE Q4 2026 · NCD code lists 2026-01 · LCD export September 28, 2026 · All releases and sources

Summary

These codes can be reported together when both conditions are documented, because G04.89 lists G31.2 under Excludes2, which marks them as distinct conditions.

Official rule
What is different?

The conditions named.G04.89 is “Other myelitis”; G31.2 is “Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol”.

Registry fact

Can these codes be reported together?

Yes, when both are documented.G04.89 lists G31.2 under Excludes2: “alcoholic encephalopathy (G31.2)”. Excludes2 marks distinct conditions that may both be reported when both are documented.

Official ruleGuide: Excludes1 vs Excludes2

Is there an Excludes1 relationship?

None.Neither entry carries an Excludes1 note that names the other code. G04.89 carries 1 Excludes1 note covering other codes; the side-by-side table quotes them.

Official rule

Is there an Excludes2 relationship?

Yes.G04.89’s tabular entry: “alcoholic encephalopathy (G31.2)”. The note covers G31.2.

Official ruleGuide: Excludes1 vs Excludes2

Is one more specific?

Not comparable.The codes sit in different categories; specificity is only comparable within one category.

Is one a parent or header code?

No.Both are billable codes, and neither contains the other.

Registry fact

Are there sequencing instructions?

None.Neither entry carries a Code First or Use Additional Code note that names the other.

Official rule

Are there other coding relationships?

None found.No laterality, encounter-phase, Table of Neoplasms, Table of Drugs and Chemicals, or history-versus-active-disease relationship links these codes.

MedCoder-derived

Official rule: a tabular instructional note or a section of the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, quoted as published. Registry fact: the codes’ own published attributes (titles, billable status, position in the hierarchy, code set). MedCoder-derived: a reading MedCoder computes from those facts; it is not itself a rule. How to read the labels

Can these codes be reported together?

Informational

Excludes2 relationship

G04.89
Other myelitis
↔
G31.2
Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol

What we found

Yes, when both are documented.G04.89 carries an Excludes2 note covering G31.2: “alcoholic encephalopathy (G31.2)”

Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.

What to review

Report both only when the documentation supports both conditions; otherwise report the one documented.

Guide: Excludes1 vs Excludes2Check these on a claim

Why it matters

An Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is not part of the code above it, but a patient can have both. Report both when both are documented.

Source / rule

CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes

Official guidance behind these answers

  • Section I.A.12.b — Excludes2 · applies to: Excludes2

    A type 2 Excludes note represents “Not included here.” An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.

    ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines FY2027

Quoted from the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting in effect for the release shown. The tabular notes above are the code-level instruction; these sections are the convention that says how such a note is applied. Source document (CMS PDF) · Release and checksum

Side by side

Similar descriptions do not make codes interchangeable. The documentation and the official instructions decide which code applies.

Official descriptionDiffers
G04.89

Other myelitis

G31.2

Degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol

StatusSame for both
Billable
Excludes1Differs
G04.89
  • encephalopathy NOS (G93.40)
G31.2

None at this code

Excludes2Differs
G04.89
  • acute transverse myelitis (G37.3)
  • alcoholic encephalopathy (G31.2)
  • multiple sclerosis (G35-)
  • myalgic encephalomyelitis (G93.32)
  • subacute necrotizing myelitis (G37.4)
  • toxic encephalitis (G92.8)
  • toxic encephalopathy (G92.8)
G31.2
  • Reye's syndrome (G93.7)
Use additional codeDiffers
G04.89

None at this code

G31.2
  • code, if applicable, for codes G31.0-G31.83, G31.85-G31.9, to identify:
  • dementia with anxiety (F02.84, F02.A4, F02.B4, F02.C4)
  • dementia with behavioral disturbance (F02.81-, F02.A1-, F02.B1-, F02.C1-)
Code alsoDiffers
G04.89
  • any associated seizure (G40.-, R56.9)
G31.2
  • associated alcoholism (F10.-)
CategoryDiffers
G04.89

G04 Encephalitis, myelitis and encephalomyelitis

G31.2

G31 Other degenerative diseases of nervous system, not elsewhere classified

ChapterSame for both

G00-G99 — Diseases of the Nervous System (G00-G99)

IncludesDiffers
G04.89
  • acute ascending myelitis
  • meningoencephalitis
  • meningomyelitis
G31.2
  • Alcoholic cerebellar ataxia
  • Alcoholic cerebellar degeneration
  • Alcoholic cerebral degeneration
  • Alcoholic encephalopathy

No Code first and 7th character note at either code.

Notes are the code’s own tabular entry, quoted as published. A note that names the other code is the one the verdict above rests on. In a row that differs, notes every code shares are dimmed.

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Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2027). A coding-rule comparison, not billing advice: payer-specific edits and medical-necessity policy are outside its scope. All data sources