Alphabetic Index FY2027

J38.02

Paralysis of vocal cords and larynx, bilateral

FY2027Chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system/J30–J39 Other diseases of upper respiratory tract

BillableComplete code, valid to report
Care settingsHome Health Primary · MMTA - Other

J38.02 (also written J3802) is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for paralysis of vocal cords and larynx, bilateral. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. It is one of the 10 codes in category J38 (Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified). The Alphabetic Index lists it under 7 entries. Its coding notes include a Use additional code instruction, 5 Excludes1 entries and 9 Excludes2 entries.

Use additional code

Add the listed code as a secondary code, if known.

Also from chapter/block level (7 notes)
Inherited from Chapter 10 Diseases of the respiratory system
  • code, where applicable, to identify:
    • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
    • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
    • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
    • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
    • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
    • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Excludes1

Not coded here. The listed conditions generally should not be reported together.

Inherited from J38 Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified
  • congenital laryngeal stridor (P28.89)
  • obstructive laryngitis (acute) (J05.0)
  • postprocedural subglottic stenosis (J95.5)
  • stridor (R06.1)
  • ulcerative laryngitis (J04.0)

Excludes2

Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.

Also from chapter/block level (9 notes)
Inherited from Chapter 10 Diseases of the respiratory system
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Care settings

How CMS programs treat this code. These are CMS claim edits and list entries, not coverage or eligibility rules.

Home Health Primary

Accepted as the primary (principal) diagnosis on a home health claim. The Home Health Grouper assigns it to the MMTA - Other clinical group.

Source: CMS Home Health Grouper Software v07.2.26, effective October 1, 2026

Notes

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Chapter 10 Diseases of the respiratory system
  • When a respiratory condition is described as occurring in more than one site and is not specifically indexed, it should be classified to the lower anatomic site (e.g. tracheobronchitis to bronchitis in J40).

Alphabetic Index terms

Terms the official Alphabetic Index lists for this code. 7 entries