2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J44.9Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified
ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J40-J4A›J44
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Chronic Condition
J44.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 190 through 192. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Airways obstruction irreversible
- Asthma with irreversible airway obstruction
- Asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome
- Asthmatic bronchitis
- Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome following allogeneic stem cell transplant
- Chronic asthmatic bronchitis
- Chronic bronchiolitis
- Chronic graft-versus-host disease
- Chronic obliterative bronchiolitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease monitoring due
- Emphysematous bronchitis
- End stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Finding of respiratory obstruction
- Mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Obstruction of bronchus
- Pulmonary hypertension due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease and/or hypoxia
- Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Subacute obliterative bronchiolitis
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Inclusion Terms
- Chronic obstructive airway disease NOS
- Chronic obstructive lung disease NOS
Type 2 Excludes
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
- Disease, diseased - See Also: Syndrome;
- airway
- obstructive, chronic - J44.9
- obstructive (chronic) - J44.9
- pulmonary - See Also: Disease, lung;
- chronic obstructive - J44.9
- Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive
- chronic - J44.9
- disease, chronic - J44.9
- respiratory - J98.8
- chronic - J44.9
External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance
References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.
- Disease, diseased
- airway
- obstructive, chronic
- Disease, diseased
- lung
- obstructive (chronic)
- Disease, diseased
- pulmonary
- chronic obstructive
- Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive
- airway
- chronic
- Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive
- lung
- disease, chronic
- Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive
- respiratory
- chronic
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Patient EducationClinical
COPD
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a group of lung diseases that make it hard to breathe and get worse over time.
The full article covers:
- What is COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
- What are the types of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
- What causes COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
- Who is at risk for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
- What are the symptoms of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
- How is COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) diagnosed?
- What are the treatments for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
- Can COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) be prevented?
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert J44.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About J44.9Overview
Is J44.9 (Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does J44.9 group to?
When chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 190, 191, 192, with relative weights from 0.6420 to 1.1077 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of J44.9?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 491.20 (obst chr bronc w/o exac), 493.20 (chronic obst asthma NOS), and 496 (chr airway obstruct NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
Footnotes
[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:
- The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
- The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.
