J15.21 — Pneumonia due to staphylococcus aureus
Is J15.21 billable?
No — J15.21 is a non-billable header code. J15.21 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 2 billable codes beneath J15.21.
J15.21 at a glance
| Code | J15.21 |
|---|---|
| Description | Pneumonia due to staphylococcus aureus |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from J15
The conditions below can never be reported together with J15.21 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Code first — inherited from J15
The underlying condition below must be sequenced before J15.21. J15.21 describes a manifestation and cannot be the principal or first-listed diagnosis.
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 10
Report an additional code alongside J15.21 to fully describe the condition. J15.21 is sequenced first.
Use additional code — inherited from J09-J18
Report an additional code alongside J15.21 to fully describe the condition. J15.21 is sequenced first.
- code, if applicable, to identify resistance to antimicrobial drugs (Z16.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 10
The conditions below are not part of J15.21, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J15.21 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- 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)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from J09-J18
The conditions below are not part of J15.21, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J15.21 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Code also — inherited from J15
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether J15.21 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
What codes fall under J15.21? (2)
How long has J15.21 existed?
J15.21 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.