2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J15Bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J09-J18›J15

ICD-10-CM J15
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

J15 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as J15.0, J15.1, J15.20, and J15.211.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J15
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified
Short Description
Bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
J09-J18
Influenza and pneumonia

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ09-J18Influenza and pneumonia
CategoryJ15Bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified
This CodeJ15Bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified

Specific Coding for Bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classifiedOverview

Non-specific codes like J15 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use J15.0 for Pneumonia due to Klebsiella pneumoniae

  • Use J15.1 for Pneumonia due to Pseudomonas

  • J15.2 for Pneumonia due to staphylococcus

  • Use J15.20 for Pneumonia due to staphylococcus, unspecified

  • J15.21 for Pneumonia due to staphylococcus aureus

  • Use J15.29 for Pneumonia due to other staphylococcus

  • Use J15.3 for Pneumonia due to streptococcus, group B

  • Use J15.4 for Pneumonia due to other streptococci

  • Use J15.5 for Pneumonia due to Escherichia coli

  • J15.6 for Pneumonia due to other Gram-negative bacteria

  • Use J15.61 for Pneumonia due to Acinetobacter baumannii

  • Use J15.69 for Pneumonia due to other Gram-negative bacteria

  • Use J15.7 for Pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae

  • Use J15.8 for Pneumonia due to other specified bacteria

  • Use J15.9 for Unspecified bacterial pneumonia

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to J15: its own notes plus those printed at block J09-J18 and Chapter 10. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

  • bronchopneumonia due to bacteria other than S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • chlamydial pneumonia (J16.0)
  • congenital pneumonia (P23.-)
  • Legionnaires' disease (A48.1)
  • spirochetal pneumonia (A69.8)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Block J09-J18 Influenza and pneumonia applies to 53 codes
  • allergic or eosinophilic pneumonia (J82)
  • aspiration pneumonia NOS (J69.0)
  • meconium pneumonia (P24.01)
  • neonatal aspiration pneumonia (P24.-)
  • pneumonia due to solids and liquids (J69.-)
  • congenital pneumonia (P23.9)
  • lipid pneumonia (J69.1)
  • rheumatic pneumonia (I00)
  • ventilator associated pneumonia (J95.851)
From Chapter 10 (J00-J99) Diseases of the respiratory system applies to 366 codes
  • 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)

Code First

The underlying condition named in the note is sequenced before this code.

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Block J09-J18 Influenza and pneumonia applies to 53 codes
  • code, if applicable, to identify resistance to antimicrobial drugs (Z16.-)
From Chapter 10 (J00-J99) Diseases of the respiratory system applies to 366 codes
  • code, where applicable, to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
  • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
  • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
  • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
  • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Code Also

A second code may be needed to fully describe the condition; the note gives no sequencing direction.

  • if applicable, any associated condition such as:
  • abscess (J85.1)
  • aspiration pneumonia (J69.-)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 10 (J00-J99) Diseases of the respiratory system applies to 366 codes
  • When a respiratory condition is described as occurring in more than one site and is not specifically indexed, it should be classified to the lower anatomic site (e.g. tracheobronchitis to bronchitis in J40).

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name J15, its category, or a range that includes it.

Use Additional Code 1

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and J15 is one of the codes named.

  • J95.89 Other postprocedural complications and disorders of respiratory system, not elsewhere classified
    bacterial or viral pneumonia (J12-J18) names J12-J18, which includes this code

Code Also 2

These codes say J15 may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • D81.82 Activated Phosphoinositide 3-kinase Delta Syndrome [APDS]
    pneumonia (J12-J18) names J12-J18, which includes this code
  • J69 Pneumonitis due to solids and liquids
    bacterial pneumonia (J13-J15.-) names J13-J15, which includes this code

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Pneumonia, Bacterial

    inflammation of the lung parenchyma that is caused by bacterial infections.

Patient EducationClinical

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection in one or both of your lungs. It causes the air sacs of your lungs to fill up with fluid or pus. Pneumonia can range from mild to severe, depending on what caused it, your age, and your overall health.

The full article covers:

  • What is pneumonia?
  • What causes pneumonia?
  • Who is more likely to develop pneumonia?
  • What are the symptoms of pneumonia?
  • What other problems can pneumonia cause?
  • How is pneumonia diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for pneumonia?
  • Can pneumonia be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About J15Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified?

J15 is the ICD-10-CM category for bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is J15 (Bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified need a more specific code from this category, such as J15.0, J15.1, and J15.20.

Can J15 be reported with J16.0?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on J15 lists "chlamydial pneumonia (J16.0)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

What is coded first with J15?

The Code First note reads: if applicable, associated influenza (J09.X1, J10.0-, J11.0-). When one of these applies, it is sequenced before J15.