2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J61Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J60-J70›J61

ICD-10-CM J61
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

J61 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 196 through 198. The code is restricted by the Medicare Code Editor to adult patients (age 15 through 124). Coders also document this condition as asbestosis. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Lung disease due to external agents.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J61
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers
Short Description
Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
J60-J70
Lung diseases due to external agents

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ60-J70Lung diseases due to external agents
CategoryJ61Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers
This CodeJ61Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for J61.

Adult diagnoses
The Medicare Code Editor detects inconsistencies in adult cases by checking a patient's age and any diagnosis on the patient's record. The adult code edits apply to patients age range is 15–124 years inclusive (e.g., senile delirium, mature cataract).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Asbestosis
  • Pneumoconiosis caused by silicate
  • Wollastonite pneumoconiosis

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Asbestosis

Type 1 Excludes

  • pleural plaque with asbestosis J92.0
  • pneumoconiosis with tuberculosis, any type in A15 J65

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Amianthosis
    • Asbestosis(occupational)
    • Fibrosis, fibrotic
      • lung (atrophic) (chronic) (confluent) (massive) (perialveolar) (peribronchial)
        • with
          • asbestosis
    • Pneumoconiosis(due to) (inhalation of)
      • asbestos
    • Pneumoconiosis(due to) (inhalation of)
      • mineral fibers NEC

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR RSP013
Lung disease due to external agents
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Asbestosis

    a form of pneumoconiosis caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers which elicit potent inflammatory responses in the parenchyma of the lung. the disease is characterized by interstitial fibrosis of the lung, varying from scattered sites to extensive scarring of the alveolar interstitium.

Patient EducationClinical

Interstitial Lung Diseases

Interstitial lung disease is the name for a large group of diseases that inflame or scar the lungs. The inflammation and scarring make it hard to get enough oxygen. The scarring is called pulmonary fibrosis.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert J61 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
501 Asbestosis
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

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 J61Overview

Is J61 (Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does J61 group to?

When pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 196, 197, 198, with relative weights from 0.7162 to 1.8872 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Who can J61 be reported for?

The Medicare Code Editor checks pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers against patient demographics: this code is intended for adult patients (age 15 through 124). Claims outside these limits are flagged as inconsistent.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of J61?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers converts to ICD-9-CM 501 (asbestosis). 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.