J38

J38: Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

J38 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified. 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.

congenital laryngeal stridor (P28.89)
obstructive laryngitis (acute) (J05.0)
postprocedural subglottic stenosis (J95.5)
stridor (R06.1)
ulcerative laryngitis (J04.0)

Other codes that can never be billed with J38

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

D14.1Benign neoplasm of larynx
M12Other and unspecified arthropathy
R06.1Stridor
R60Edema, not elsewhere classified

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 J38

8 child codes. Green means billable.