2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J20Acute bronchitis

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J20-J22›J20

ICD-10-CM J20
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

J20 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for acute bronchitis, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as J20.0, J20.1, J20.2, and J20.3.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J20
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Acute bronchitis
Short Description
Acute bronchitis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
J20-J22
Other acute lower respiratory infections

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ20-J22Other acute lower respiratory infections
CategoryJ20Acute bronchitis
This CodeJ20Acute bronchitis

Specific Coding for Acute bronchitisOverview

Non-specific codes like J20 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use J20.0 for Acute bronchitis due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae

  • Use J20.1 for Acute bronchitis due to Hemophilus influenzae

  • Use J20.2 for Acute bronchitis due to streptococcus

  • Use J20.3 for Acute bronchitis due to coxsackievirus

  • Use J20.4 for Acute bronchitis due to parainfluenza virus

  • Use J20.5 for Acute bronchitis due to respiratory syncytial virus

  • Use J20.6 for Acute bronchitis due to rhinovirus

  • Use J20.7 for Acute bronchitis due to echovirus

  • Use J20.8 for Acute bronchitis due to other specified organisms

  • Use J20.9 for Acute bronchitis, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to J20: its own notes plus those printed at block J20-J22 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.

  • acute and subacute bronchitis (with) bronchospasm
  • acute and subacute bronchitis (with) tracheitis
  • acute and subacute bronchitis (with) tracheobronchitis, acute
  • acute and subacute fibrinous bronchitis
  • acute and subacute membranous bronchitis
  • acute and subacute purulent bronchitis
  • acute and subacute septic bronchitis

Excludes1

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

  • bronchitis NOS (J40)
  • tracheobronchitis NOS (J40)

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.

On J20 itself
  • acute bronchitis with bronchiectasis (J47.0)
  • acute bronchitis with chronic obstructive asthma (J44.0)
  • acute bronchitis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (J44.0)
  • allergic bronchitis NOS (J45.909)
  • bronchitis due to chemicals, fumes and vapors (J68.0)
  • chronic bronchitis NOS (J42)
  • chronic mucopurulent bronchitis (J41.1)
  • chronic obstructive bronchitis (J44.-)
  • chronic obstructive tracheobronchitis (J44.-)
  • chronic simple bronchitis (J41.0)
  • chronic tracheobronchitis (J42)
From Block J20-J22 Other acute lower respiratory infections applies to 15 codes
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with acute lower respiratory infection (J44.0)
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)

Use Additional Code

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

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)

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 J20, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 2

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming J20: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • J40 Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic
    acute bronchitis (J20.-)
  • J98.01 Acute bronchospasm
    acute bronchitis with bronchospasm (J20.-)

Code Also 1

These codes say J20 may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • D81.82 Activated Phosphoinositide 3-kinase Delta Syndrome [APDS]
    other acute respiratory tract infections (J00-J06; J20-J22)

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Acute Bronchitis

    acute inflammation and edema of the larger bronchi caused by viruses or bacteria. signs and symptoms include cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, and wheezing.

Patient EducationClinical

Acute Bronchitis

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to your lungs. It causes a cough that often brings up mucus. It can also cause shortness of breath, wheezing, a low fever, and chest tightness. There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and chronic.

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 J20Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for acute bronchitis?

J20 is the ICD-10-CM category for acute bronchitis, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is J20 (Acute bronchitis) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for acute bronchitis, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for acute bronchitis need a more specific code from this category, such as J20.0, J20.1, and J20.2.

Can J20 be reported with J40?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on J20 lists "bronchitis NOS (J40)". 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).