J45.901 — Unspecified asthma with (acute) exacerbation
Is J45.901 billable?
Yes, but J45.901 is an unspecified code. J45.901 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, J45.901 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 J45.901 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
J45.901 at a glance
| Code | J45.901 |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified asthma with (acute) exacerbation |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does J45.901 group to?
J45.901 sits in MDC 04 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 202Bronchitis and Asthma with CC/MCCmedical
- 203Bronchitis and Asthma without CC/MCCmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, J45.901 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is J45.901 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to J45.901. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Asthma, asthmatic › with › exacerbation (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic)
- Asthma, asthmatic › allergic extrinsic › with › exacerbation (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic)
- Asthma, asthmatic › childhood › with › exacerbation (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic)
- Asthma, asthmatic › late-onset › with › exacerbation (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic)
- Asthma, asthmatic › mixed › with › exacerbation (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic)
- Asthma, asthmatic › nonallergic › with › exacerbation (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic)
- Bronchitis › allergic › with › exacerbation (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)
- Dyspnea › asthmatic › with › exacerbation (nocturnal) (paroxysmal)
- Fever › hay › with asthma › with › exacerbation (inanition) (of unknown origin) (persistent) (with chills) (with rigor)
- Rhinitis › allergic › with asthma › with › exacerbation (atrophic) (catarrhal) (chronic) (croupous) (fibrinous) (granulomatous) (hyperplastic) (hypertrophic) (membranous) (obstructive) (purulent) (suppurative) (ulcerative)
- Dyspnea › asthmatic › with › bronchitis › with › exacerbation (nocturnal) (paroxysmal)
- Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive › airway › with › asthma › with › exacerbation
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from J40-J4B
The conditions below can never be reported together with J45.901 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)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from J45
The conditions below can never be reported together with J45.901 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 — inherited from Chapter 10
Report an additional code alongside J45.901 to fully describe the condition. J45.901 is sequenced first.
Use additional code — inherited from J45
Report an additional code alongside J45.901 to fully describe the condition. J45.901 is sequenced first.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 10
The conditions below are not part of J45.901, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J45.901 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 J45.901, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J45.901 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- cystic fibrosis (E84.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from J45
The conditions below are not part of J45.901, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J45.901 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has J45.901 existed?
J45.901 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.