J02 vs J31.2
J02 (Acute pharyngitis) compared with J31.2 (Chronic pharyngitis), from the official CMS tabular data. Both may be reported when both conditions are documented (Excludes2).
Can these codes be reported together?
Yes, when both are documented. J02 carries an Excludes2 note covering J31.2: “chronic pharyngitis (J31.2)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| J02Acute pharyngitis | J31.2Chronic pharyngitis | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Billable |
| Classification | J00-J99 — Diseases of the Respiratory System (J00-J99) | J00-J99 — Diseases of the Respiratory System (J00-J99) |
| Definition | Acute pharyngitis is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (J02). | Chronic pharyngitis is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (J31.2). |
| Includes | acute sore throat | Chronic sore throat Atrophic pharyngitis (chronic) Granular pharyngitis (chronic) Hypertrophic pharyngitis (chronic) |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources