J38.5: Laryngeal spasm

J38.5, laryngeal spasm, is listed as a covered diagnosis in 16 Medicare billing and coding articles that apply to 10 HCPCS Level II codes, including J0585 (Injection, onabotulinumtoxina, 1 unit), J0588 (Injection, incobotulinumtoxin a, 1 unit), J0586 (Injection, abobotulinumtoxina, 5 units). The articles come from 7 Medicare contractors. A listed diagnosis supports medical necessity only; coverage still depends on the LCD's criteria and on documentation in the medical record.

HCPCS Level II codes with J38.5 as a covered diagnosis

CodeDescriptionMedicare coverageDMEPOS fee 2026 (state range)Articles listing it
J0585Injection, onabotulinumtoxina, 1 unitSpecial coverage instructions apply—8
J0588Injection, incobotulinumtoxin a, 1 unitCarrier judgment—8
J0586Injection, abobotulinumtoxina, 5 unitsCarrier judgment—8
J0587Injection, rimabotulinumtoxinb, 100 unitsSpecial coverage instructions apply—8
J0589Injection, daxibotulinumtoxina-lanm, 1 unitCarrier judgment—8
G0451Development testing, with interpretation and report, per standardized instrument formCarrier judgment—1
G0238Therapeutic procedures to improve respiratory function, other than described by g0237, one on one, face to face, per 15 minutes (includes monitoring)Carrier judgment—2
G0237Therapeutic procedures to increase strength or endurance of respiratory muscles, face to face, one on one, each 15 minutes (includes monitoring)Carrier judgment—2
G0239Therapeutic procedures to improve respiratory function or increase strength or endurance of respiratory muscles, two or more individuals (includes monitoring)Carrier judgment—2
G0255Current perception threshold/sensory nerve conduction test, (snct) per limb, any nerveNon-covered by MedicareNot covered5

Medicare policy articles listing J38.5

1 more articles list J38.5.

A diagnosis listed as covered in a billing and coding article supports medical necessity for the article's codes; it does not guarantee payment. Coverage depends on the LCD's criteria, the contractor's jurisdiction and documentation in the medical record.

Other J38 diagnoses (Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified)

Frequently asked questions

Does Medicare cover J38.5 (Laryngeal spasm)?

Medicare covers items and services, not diagnoses. 16 Medicare billing and coding articles list J38.5 as a covered diagnosis for 10 HCPCS Level II codes: the diagnosis can support medical necessity for those codes, but payment still depends on the LCD's coverage criteria and the medical record.

Which HCPCS codes can be billed with ICD-10 J38.5?

The Level II codes from the policies most specific to this diagnosis are J0585 (Injection, onabotulinumtoxina, 1 unit, 8 articles); J0588 (Injection, incobotulinumtoxin a, 1 unit, 8 articles); J0586 (Injection, abobotulinumtoxina, 5 units, 8 articles); J0587 (Injection, rimabotulinumtoxinb, 100 units, 8 articles); J0589 (Injection, daxibotulinumtoxina-lanm, 1 unit, 8 articles). Code choice depends on the item supplied; check each code's descriptor.

Which Medicare policy articles list J38.5?

A57715 (Billing and Coding: Botulinum Toxins); A58423 (Billing and Coding: Botulinum Toxins); A52866 (Billing and Coding: Speech-Language Pathology), and 13 more articles.

What is ICD-10-CM code J38.5?

J38.5 is the ICD-10-CM code for laryngeal spasm, in category J38 (Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified), chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system.

Next steps

Sources: CMS Medicare Coverage Database billing and coding articles (covered ICD-10 code lists and HCPCS links); ICD-10-CM FY2026; CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule 2026 (non-rural state fees). Not billing or legal advice.

Chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system · All diagnoses · HCPCS lookup