ICD-10 Code for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Also searched as chronic obstructive lung disease
The ICD-10-CM code for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is J44.9 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified. It is billable for FY2027.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ICD-10 codes at a glance
| Condition | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) |
|---|---|
| Code | J44.9 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified |
| Billable | Yes (J44.9) |
| Alphabetic Index entry | Disease, diseased, lung, obstructive |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027, valid October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
What changes the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease code?
The Alphabetic Index lists these qualifiers under Disease, diseased, pulmonary, chronic obstructive. If the record documents one of them, the code changes. Verify the code in the Tabular List before reporting it.
| with › acute bronchitis | J44.0 | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) lower respiratory infection |
| with › exacerbation | J44.1 | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation |
| with › lower respiratory infection | J44.0 | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) lower respiratory infection |
| decompensated | J44.1 | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation |
What does the Tabular List say about J44.9?
The instructional notes that govern J44.9, including those it inherits from its category and chapter. An Excludes1 note means the two codes are never reported together.
Excludes2 — not included here
The conditions below are not part of J44.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J44.9 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 J44.9.
- Chronic obstructive airway disease NOS
- Chronic obstructive lung disease NOS
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from J40-J4B
The conditions below can never be reported together with J44.9 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 J44.9 to fully describe the condition. J44.9 is sequenced first.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 10
The conditions below are not part of J44.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J44.9 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 J44.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J44.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- cystic fibrosis (E84.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from J44
The conditions below are not part of J44.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J44.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Code also — inherited from J44
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether J44.9 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- type of asthma, if applicable (J45.-)
Codes, descriptions and Index entries are from the official ICD-10-CM FY2027 release. Guideline text is quoted from the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2027. A code must always be verified in the Tabular List before it is reported. Data sources