2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J45Asthma

ICD-10-CM CodesJ00–J99J40-J4AJ45

ICD-10-CM J45
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

J45 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for asthma, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as J45.20, J45.21, J45.22, and J45.30.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J45
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Asthma
Short Description
Asthma
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
J40-J4A
Chronic lower respiratory diseases

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ40-J4AChronic lower respiratory diseases
CategoryJ45Asthma
This CodeJ45Asthma

Specific Coding for AsthmaOverview

Non-specific codes like J45 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • J45.2 for Mild intermittent asthma

  • Use J45.20 for Mild intermittent asthma, uncomplicated

  • Use J45.21 for Mild intermittent asthma with (acute) exacerbation

  • Use J45.22 for Mild intermittent asthma with status asthmaticus

  • J45.3 for Mild persistent asthma

  • Use J45.30 for Mild persistent asthma, uncomplicated

  • Use J45.31 for Mild persistent asthma with (acute) exacerbation

  • Use J45.32 for Mild persistent asthma with status asthmaticus

  • J45.4 for Moderate persistent asthma

  • Use J45.40 for Moderate persistent asthma, uncomplicated

  • Use J45.41 for Moderate persistent asthma with (acute) exacerbation

  • Use J45.42 for Moderate persistent asthma with status asthmaticus

  • J45.5 for Severe persistent asthma

  • Use J45.50 for Severe persistent asthma, uncomplicated

  • Use J45.51 for Severe persistent asthma with (acute) exacerbation

  • Use J45.52 for Severe persistent asthma with status asthmaticus

  • J45.9 for Other and unspecified asthma

  • J45.90 for Unspecified asthma

  • J45.99 for Other asthma

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Includes

  • allergic (predominantly) asthma
  • allergic bronchitis NOS
  • allergic rhinitis with asthma
  • atopic asthma
  • extrinsic allergic asthma
  • hay fever with asthma
  • idiosyncratic asthma
  • intrinsic nonallergic asthma
  • nonallergic asthma

Use Additional Code

  • code to identify:
  • eosinophilic asthma J82.83
  • 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

Type 1 Excludes

Type 2 Excludes

  • asthma with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease J44.89
  • chronic asthmatic obstructive bronchitis J44.89
  • chronic obstructive asthma J44.89
  • other specified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease J44.89

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Airway Remodeling

    the structural changes in the number, mass, size and/or composition of the airway tissues.
  • Asthma

    a form of bronchial disorder with three distinct components: airway hyper-responsiveness (respiratory hypersensitivity), airway inflammation, and intermittent airway obstruction. it is characterized by spasmodic contraction of airway smooth muscle, wheezing, and dyspnea (dyspnea, paroxysmal).
  • Asthma, Aspirin-Induced

    asthmatic adverse reaction (e.g., bronchoconstriction) to conventional nsaids including aspirin use.
  • Asthma, Exercise-Induced

    asthma attacks following a period of exercise. usually the induced attack is short-lived and regresses spontaneously. the magnitude of postexertional airway obstruction is strongly influenced by the environment in which exercise is performed (i.e. inhalation of cold air during physical exertion markedly augments the severity of the airway obstruction; conversely, warm humid air blunts or abolishes it).
  • Asthma, Occupational

    asthma attacks caused, triggered, or exacerbated by occupational exposure.
  • Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap Syndrome

    syndrome with clinical features of both asthma and copd.
  • Conyza

    a plant genus of the family asteraceae. members contain alkenynes, daucosterol, friedelinol, conyzasaponins and other triterpenes.
  • Cough-Variant Asthma

    asthma which is characterized by chronic cough that is nonproductive without other asthmatic symptoms, e.g., wheezing, and paroxysmal dyspnea. cough-variant asthma is accompanied by airway hypersensitivity and may progress to classical asthma without treatment.
  • Dyspnea, Paroxysmal

    a disorder characterized by sudden attacks of respiratory distress in at rest patients with heart failure and pulmonary edema. it usually occurs at night after several hours of sleep in a reclining position. patients awaken with a feeling of suffocation, coughing, a cold sweat, and tachycardia. when there is significant wheezing, it is called cardiac asthma.
  • Status Asthmaticus

    a sudden intense and continuous aggravation of a state of asthma, marked by dyspnea to the point of exhaustion and collapse and not responding to the usual therapeutic efforts.
  • Tylophora

    a plant genus of the family asclepiadaceae. members contain phenanthro-indolizidine alkaloids.
  • Occupational Exposure

    the exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents that occurs as a result of one's occupation.

Patient EducationClinical

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease. It affects your airways, the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. When you have asthma, your airways can become inflamed and narrowed. This can cause wheezing, coughing, and tightness in your chest. When these symptoms get worse than usual, it is called an asthma attack or flare-up.

The full article covers:

  • What is asthma?
  • What causes asthma?
  • Who is at risk for asthma?
  • What are the symptoms of asthma?
  • How is asthma diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for asthma?

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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About J45Overview

Is J45 (Asthma) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for asthma, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for asthma need a more specific code from this category, such as J45.20, J45.21, and J45.22.