J42 — Unspecified chronic bronchitis
Is J42 billable?
Yes, but J42 is an unspecified code. J42 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, J42 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 J42.
J42 at a glance
| Code | J42 |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified chronic bronchitis |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does J42 group to?
J42 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.
- 190Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with MCCmedical
- 191Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with CCmedical
- 192Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease without CC/MCCmedical
How is J42 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to J42. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Pharyngotracheitis, chronic
- Bronchitis › chronic (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)
- Bronchitis › senile (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)
- Bronchorrhea › chronic
- Infection, infected, infective › trachea, chronic (opportunistic)
- Tracheitis › chronic (catarrhal) (infantile) (membranous) (plastic) (septal) (suppurative) (viral)
- Tracheopharyngitis › chronic (acute)
- Bronchitis › with › tracheitis › chronic (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)
- Bronchitis › chronic › with › tracheitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)
- Tracheitis › with › bronchitis › chronic (catarrhal) (infantile) (membranous) (plastic) (septal) (suppurative) (viral)
- Tracheitis › chronic › with › bronchitis (catarrhal) (infantile) (membranous) (plastic) (septal) (suppurative) (viral)
Excludes1 — never code together
The conditions below can never be reported together with J42 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Use additional code
Report an additional code alongside J42 to fully describe the condition. J42 is sequenced first.
Code also
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether J42 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- , if applicable, chronic respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.4)
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to J42.
- Chronic bronchitis NOS
- Chronic tracheitis
- Chronic tracheobronchitis
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from J40-J4B
The conditions below can never be reported together with J42 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- bronchitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.0)
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 10
Report an additional code alongside J42 to fully describe the condition. J42 is sequenced first.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 10
The conditions below are not part of J42, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J42 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 J40-J4B
The conditions below are not part of J42, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J42 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- cystic fibrosis (E84.-)
How long has J42 existed?
J42 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 J42?
ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with J42 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.