MCMedicalCodingSoftware
J02

J02: Acute pharyngitis

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

J02 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for acute pharyngitis. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below.

Excludes1: never code together

These conditions cannot occur together. Billing both on the same encounter is a denial.

  • acute laryngopharyngitis (J06.0)
  • peritonsillar abscess (J36)
  • pharyngeal abscess (J39.1)
  • retropharyngeal abscess (J39.0)

Excludes2: not included here, but may coexist

The excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient can have both. You may code both.

  • chronic pharyngitis (J31.2)

Includes

Conditions this code covers.

  • acute sore throat

Other codes that can never be billed with J02

Their own Excludes1 notes name this code, so the conflict is not listed above.

  • J00Acute nasopharyngitis [common cold]
  • J03Acute tonsillitis
  • J06Acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites
  • R07.0Pain in throat

Risk adjustment

No CMS-HCC V28 category: this code does not change a RAF score.

Code history

Unchanged in every release from FY2024 to FY2027.

Code to one of these instead J02

3 child codes. Green means billable.

ICD-10-CMFY2027· effective October 1, 2026

Loaded directly from the CMS/NCHS ICD-10-CM public-domain release: see data sources and our editorial policy. If this page disagrees with the CMS tabular list, this page is wrong. Reference information for professional coders; not medical or billing advice.