J45.909 — Unspecified asthma, uncomplicated
Is J45.909 billable?
Yes, but J45.909 is an unspecified code. J45.909 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, J45.909 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 J45.909 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
J45.909 at a glance
| Code | J45.909 |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified asthma, uncomplicated |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does J45.909 group to?
J45.909 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
How is J45.909 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to J45.909. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Asthma, asthmatic (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic)
- IgE asthma
- Asthma, asthmatic › allergic extrinsic (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic)
- Asthma, asthmatic › childhood (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic)
- Asthma, asthmatic › late-onset (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic)
- Asthma, asthmatic › mixed (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic)
- Asthma, asthmatic › nonallergic (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic)
- Asthma, asthmatic › predominantly allergic (bronchial) (catarrh) (spasmodic)
- Bronchitis › allergic (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)
- Dyspnea › asthmatic (nocturnal) (paroxysmal)
- Fever › hay › with asthma (inanition) (of unknown origin) (persistent) (with chills) (with rigor)
- Rhinitis › allergic › with asthma (atrophic) (catarrhal) (chronic) (croupous) (fibrinous) (granulomatous) (hyperplastic) (hypertrophic) (membranous) (obstructive) (purulent) (suppurative) (ulcerative)
Excludes2 — not included here
The conditions below are not part of J45.909, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J45.909 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70)
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to J45.909.
- Asthma NOS
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from J40-J4B
The conditions below can never be reported together with J45.909 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 J45.909 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 J45.909 to fully describe the condition. J45.909 is sequenced first.
Use additional code — inherited from J45
Report an additional code alongside J45.909 to fully describe the condition. J45.909 is sequenced first.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 10
The conditions below are not part of J45.909, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J45.909 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 J45.909, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J45.909 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 J45.909, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J45.909 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has J45.909 existed?
J45.909 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.