J18.0 — Bronchopneumonia, unspecified organism
Is J18.0 billable?
Yes, but J18.0 is an unspecified code. J18.0 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, J18.0 is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting J18.0 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
J18.0 at a glance
| Code | J18.0 |
|---|---|
| Description | Bronchopneumonia, unspecified organism |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does J18.0 group to?
J18.0 sits in MDC 04 and helps define the logic of 3 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 193Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCCmedical
- 194Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with CCmedical
- 195Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy without CC/MCCmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, J18.0 is a major complication or comorbidity (MCC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is J18.0 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to J18.0. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Bronchoalveolitis
- Pneumonia › broncho-, bronchial (acute) (double) (migratory) (purulent) (septic) (unresolved)
Excludes1 — never code together
The conditions below can never be reported together with J18.0 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Excludes2 — not included here
The conditions below are not part of J18.0, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J18.0 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from J18
The conditions below can never be reported together with J18.0 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 J18
The underlying condition below must be sequenced before J18.0. J18.0 describes a manifestation and cannot be the principal or first-listed diagnosis.
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 10
Report an additional code alongside J18.0 to fully describe the condition. J18.0 is sequenced first.
Use additional code — inherited from J09-J18
Report an additional code alongside J18.0 to fully describe the condition. J18.0 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 J18.0, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J18.0 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 J18.0, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J18.0 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from J18
The conditions below are not part of J18.0, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J18.0 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 — inherited from J18
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether J18.0 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- , if applicable, any associated condition such as:
- aspiration pneumonia (J69.-)
How long has J18.0 existed?
J18.0 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 J18.0?
ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with J18.0 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.