J18 — Pneumonia, unspecified organism
Is J18 billable?
No — J18 is a non-billable header code. J18 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 5 billable codes beneath J18.
J18 at a glance
| Code | J18 |
|---|---|
| Description | Pneumonia, unspecified organism |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Excludes1 — never code together
The conditions below can never be reported together with J18 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
The underlying condition below must be sequenced before J18. J18 describes a manifestation and cannot be the principal or first-listed diagnosis.
Excludes2 — not included here
The conditions below are not part of J18, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J18 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- abscess of lung with pneumonia (J85.1)
- aspiration pneumonia due to anesthesia during labor and delivery (O74.0)
- aspiration pneumonia due to anesthesia during pregnancy (O29)
- aspiration pneumonia due to anesthesia during puerperium (O89.0)
- aspiration pneumonia due to solids and liquids (J69.-)
- aspiration pneumonia NOS (J69.0)
- lipid pneumonia (J69.1)
- pneumonitis due to external agents (J67-J70)
Code also
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether J18 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- , if applicable, any associated condition such as:
- aspiration pneumonia (J69.-)
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 10
Report an additional code alongside J18 to fully describe the condition. J18 is sequenced first.
Use additional code — inherited from J09-J18
Report an additional code alongside J18 to fully describe the condition. J18 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 J18, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J18 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 J18, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J18 and the excluded code may both be reported.
What codes fall under J18? (5)
How long has J18 existed?
J18 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.
Which codes are confused with J18?
ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with J18 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.