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J31.2 ICD-10-CM Code: Chronic pharyngitis

Compare with another code for J31.2Check this code on a claim

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Coding at a Glance

Official instructions
4 inclusion terms · 1 Excludes2

What these terms mean →

Billable · FY2027A valid, specific ICD-10-CM code, reportable for dates of service in FY2027.

What you need to know

Source: CMS/NCHS Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes, quoted. From the CMS/NCHS tabular list for the release in force. A note the category or block publishes applies to this code too, and is marked with where it comes from.

Excludes2Not included here; may be reported together
  • acute pharyngitis (J02.9)
IncludesWhat this code covers
  • Chronic sore throat
  • Atrophic pharyngitis (chronic)
  • Granular pharyngitis (chronic)
  • Hypertrophic pharyngitis (chronic)

Where it sits Source: CMS/NCHS

Under:Chapter 10: Diseases of the Respiratory SystemJ30-J39 Other diseases of upper respiratory tractJ31 Chronic rhinitis, nasopharyngitis and pharyngitis

Most relevant related codes MedCoder-derived

Read off the official notes above and this code’s own position in the tabular list. Which to report is a documentation question; Compare shows the two side by side.

CompareCheck ClaimView Related Codes

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v44, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 011 — TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH MCC (MDC PRE)
  • MS-DRG 012 — TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITH CC (MDC PRE)
  • MS-DRG 013 — TRACHEOSTOMY FOR FACE, MOUTH AND NECK DIAGNOSES OR LARYNGECTOMY WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC PRE)
  • MS-DRG 152 — OTITIS MEDIA AND URI WITH MCC (MDC 03)
  • MS-DRG 153 — OTITIS MEDIA AND URI WITHOUT MCC (MDC 03)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for J31.2 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2027Effective: October 1, 2026

Trace:FY2027 changesChange historyRelease, file and checksum

Inclusion Terms

Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.

  • Chronic sore throat
  • Atrophic pharyngitis (chronic)
  • Granular pharyngitis (chronic)
  • Hypertrophic pharyngitis (chronic)

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

Coder workflow for J31.2

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement
Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).
Acuity
Acute or chronic as documented; when both are documented and separate codes exist, both are reported with the acute code first (Guidelines I.B.8).

Official instructions as workflow

  • Excludes2 — not part of J31.2(1 note)

    Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in J31.2. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

    CompareJ02.9

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Don’t confuse J31.2 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of J31.2 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

  • J02.9— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

    Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

    A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

    What moves you there: Documentation of acute pharyngitis adds J02.9; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

    Full comparison: J31.2 vs J02.9 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Coding context

Guidelines, coding notes, decision aids, relationships (with MS-DRG and CCSR classification), hierarchy, HCC, coverage and the context map: what a coder reaches for after the core. Each section names whether it is official source data, a MedCoder-derived relationship or MedCoder editorial.

Code Overview

Chronic pharyngitis is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (J31.2).

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Verify Before Coding

  • No Medicare Code Editor or MS-DRG Definitions Manual restrictions apply to this code.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder-derived relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name J31.2 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 1 Excludes1 note: R07.0 — Pain in throat.

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 3 Excludes2 notes: J00 — Acute nasopharyngitis [common cold], J02 — Acute pharyngitis, J39.2 — Other diseases of pharynx.

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2027)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2027 MS-DRG: not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity for that release.

Named in the grouper logic of 5 MS-DRGs: DRG 011 (MDC PRE), DRG 012 (MDC PRE), DRG 013 (MDC PRE), DRG 152 (MDC 03), DRG 153 (MDC 03).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):RSP007 — Other specified and unspecified upper respiratory disease (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Other specified and unspecified upper respiratory disease).

A50.05 — Early congenital syphilitic rhinitis, J30.0 — Vasomotor rhinitis, J30.1 — Allergic rhinitis due to pollen, J30.2 — Other seasonal allergic rhinitis, J30.5 — Allergic rhinitis due to food, J30.81 — Allergic rhinitis due to animal (cat) (dog) hair and dander, J30.89 — Other allergic rhinitis, J30.9 — Allergic rhinitis, unspecified, J31.0 — Chronic rhinitis, J31.1 — Chronic nasopharyngitis, J33.0 — Polyp of nasal cavity, J33.1 — Polypoid sinus degeneration, J33.8 — Other polyp of sinus, J33.9 — Nasal polyp, unspecified, J34.0 — Abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of nose, J34.1 — Cyst and mucocele of nose and nasal sinus, J34.2 — Deviated nasal septum, J34.3 — Hypertrophy of nasal turbinates, J34.81 — Nasal mucositis (ulcerative), J34.8200 — Internal nasal valve collapse, unspecified, +24 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main terms “Catarrh, catarrhal”, “Inflammation, inflamed, inflammatory”, “Smoker's”, …; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

H30.89 — Other chorioretinal inflammations (chorioretinal, specified type NEC), H30.9 — Unspecified chorioretinal inflammation (chorioretinal), H57.1 — Ocular pain (eye), H68.009 — Unspecified Eustachian salpingitis, unspecified ear (eustachian), I80.9 — Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis of unspecified site (vein, thrombotic), J00 — Acute nasopharyngitis [common cold], J02.0 — Streptococcal pharyngitis (septic), J02.8 — Acute pharyngitis due to other specified organisms (viral NEC), J02.9 — Acute pharyngitis, unspecified, J06.9 — Acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified (respiratory, upper), J37.0 — Chronic laryngitis (larynx, chronic), J38.3 — Other diseases of vocal cords (vocal cord), J41.0 — Simple chronic bronchitis (cough), J68.2 — Upper respiratory inflammation due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors, not elsewhere classified (respiratory, upper, due to, chemicals, gases, fumes or vapors), J70.0 — Acute pulmonary manifestations due to radiation (respiratory, upper, acute, due to radiation), J70.1 — Chronic and other pulmonary manifestations due to radiation (respiratory, upper, due to, radiation), J98.4 — Other disorders of lung (lung, chronic), J98.8 — Other specified respiratory disorders (chest), K05.00 — Acute gingivitis, plaque induced (gingivitis), K05.01 — Acute gingivitis, non-plaque induced (gingivitis, nonplaque induced), +90 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of J31.2 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run J31.2 with these 5 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Excludes2

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

  • R07.0 — Pain in throat[Excludes1]: “chronic sore throat (J31.2)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2027

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

Clinical classification (CCSR)

MS-DRG Grouper

MDC crossing

  • Pre-MDC[MDC crossing]: “Pre-MDC — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 175 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2027
  • MDC 03 — Diseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 5,151 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2027

Index entries (13)

  • Catarrh, catarrhal (acute) (febrile) (infectious) (inflammation), throat[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Granular, inflammation, pharynx[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Inflammation, inflamed, inflammatory (with exudation), follicular, pharynx[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Inflammation, inflamed, inflammatory (with exudation), granular, pharynx[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Pharyngitis (acute) (catarrhal)(gangrenous) (infective) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pseudomembranous) (simple) (subacute) (suppurative) (ulcerative), atrophic[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Pharyngitis (acute) (catarrhal)(gangrenous) (infective) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pseudomembranous) (simple) (subacute) (suppurative) (ulcerative), chronic (atrophic) (granular) (hypertrophic)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Pharyngitis (acute) (catarrhal)(gangrenous) (infective) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pseudomembranous) (simple) (subacute) (suppurative) (ulcerative), follicular (chronic)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • Pharyngitis (acute) (catarrhal)(gangrenous) (infective) (malignant) (membranous) (phlegmonous) (pseudomembranous) (simple) (subacute) (suppurative) (ulcerative), granular (chronic)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2027
  • and 5 more

Nearest codes

Change history

  • FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Reference

Index terms and tables, published questions and FAQ, every source behind this page with its release and checksum, the date-of-service check and the complete change history.

Indexed Clinical Terms (13)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data
CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2027 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2026 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Claim edits Official source data
CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v44.0 (October 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Inpatient payment groups Official source data
CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v44 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data
CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder-derived relationship
Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears
Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder editorial explanation
Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

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

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder-derived relationship · MedCoder editorial explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates · CMS coding rules

Cite this page

Reference this page in a research guide, syllabus or article. The release is included because code content changes each year.

MedCoder.ai. "J31.2 — Chronic pharyngitis." ICD-10-CM FY2027. https://medcoder.ai/icd10/code/j31.2-chronic-pharyngitis

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Chronic pharyngitis

No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027, and none are recorded for this code. Note changes are tracked from FY2027 only.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to J31.2 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the J31 family