2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J41Simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J40-J4B›J41

ICD-10-CM J41
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

J41 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as J41.0, J41.1, and J41.8.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J41
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis
Short Description
Simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
J40-J4B
Chronic lower respiratory diseases

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ40-J4BChronic lower respiratory diseases
CategoryJ41Simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis
This CodeJ41Simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis

Specific Coding for Simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitisOverview

Non-specific codes like J41 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use J41.0 for Simple chronic bronchitis

  • Use J41.1 for Mucopurulent chronic bronchitis

  • Use J41.8 for Mixed simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to J41: its own notes plus those printed at block J40-J4B and Chapter 10. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

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

From Block J40-J4B Chronic lower respiratory diseases applies to 40 codes
  • bronchitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.0)

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 J41 itself
  • chronic bronchitis NOS (J42)
  • chronic obstructive bronchitis (J44.-)
From Block J40-J4B Chronic lower respiratory diseases applies to 40 codes
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.

On J41 itself
  • code 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)
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 J41, its category, or a range that includes it.

Applicable To 1

These notes mention J41.

  • Z82.5 Family history of asthma and other chronic lower respiratory diseases
    Conditions classifiable to J40-J47 names J40-J47, which includes this code

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming J41: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • J42 Unspecified chronic bronchitis
    simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis (J41.-)

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming J41: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • J44 Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
    chronic simple and mucopurulent bronchitis (J41.-)

Patient EducationClinical

Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is a type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD is a group of lung diseases that make it hard to breathe and get worse over time. The other main type of COPD is emphysema. Most people with COPD have both emphysema and chronic bronchitis, but how severe each type is can be different from person to person.

The full article covers:

  • What is chronic bronchitis?
  • What causes chronic bronchitis?
  • Who is at risk for chronic bronchitis?
  • What are the symptoms of chronic bronchitis?
  • How is chronic bronchitis diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for chronic bronchitis?
  • Can chronic bronchitis 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 J41Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis?

J41 is the ICD-10-CM category for simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is J41 (Simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis need a more specific code from this category, such as J41.0, J41.1, and J41.8.

Can J41 be reported with J68.0?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at block J40-J4B, which applies to J41, lists "bronchitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.0)". 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).

Does J41 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code 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.-); and 1 more listed in the Instructional Notes section. The additional code is reported after J41.