2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J81Pulmonary edema

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J80-J84›J81

ICD-10-CM J81
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

J81 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for pulmonary edema, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as J81.0 and J81.1.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J81
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Pulmonary edema
Short Description
Pulmonary edema
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
J80-J84
Other respiratory diseases principally affecting the interstitium

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ80-J84Other respiratory diseases principally affecting the interstitium
CategoryJ81Pulmonary edema
This CodeJ81Pulmonary edema

Specific Coding for Pulmonary edemaOverview

Non-specific codes like J81 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use J81.0 for Acute pulmonary edema

  • Use J81.1 for Chronic pulmonary edema

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Use Additional Code

  • code to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke Z77.22
  • history of tobacco dependence Z87.891
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke Z57.31
  • tobacco dependence F17
  • tobacco use Z72.0

Type 1 Excludes

  • chemical acute pulmonary edema J68.1
  • hypostatic pneumonia J18.2
  • passive pneumonia J18.2
  • pulmonary edema due to external agents J60 J70
  • pulmonary edema with heart disease NOS I50.1
  • pulmonary edema with heart failure I50.1

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Pulmonary Edema

    excessive accumulation of extravascular fluid in the lung, an indication of a serious underlying disease or disorder. pulmonary edema prevents efficient pulmonary gas exchange in the pulmonary alveoli, and can be life-threatening.

Patient EducationClinical

Lung Diseases

When you breathe, your lungs take in oxygen from the air and deliver it to the bloodstream. The cells in your body need oxygen to work and grow. During a normal day, you breathe nearly 25,000 times. People with lung disease have difficulty breathing. Millions of people in the U.S. have lung disease.

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 J81Overview

Is J81 (Pulmonary edema) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for pulmonary edema, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for pulmonary edema need a more specific code from this category, such as J81.0 and J81.1.