2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J81Pulmonary edema

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J80-J84›J81

ICD-10-CM J81
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

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

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to J81: its own notes plus those printed at 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.

  • 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)

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.

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 J81 itself
  • 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)
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 J81, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 4

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming J81: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • I50.1 Left ventricular failure, unspecified
    edema of lung without heart disease or heart failure (J81.-)
  • I50.1 Left ventricular failure, unspecified
    pulmonary edema without heart disease or failure (J81.-)
  • J68.1 Pulmonary edema due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
    pulmonary edema (acute) (chronic) NOS (J81.-)
  • R60 Edema, not elsewhere classified
    pulmonary edema (J81.-)

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 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About J81Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for pulmonary edema?

J81 is the ICD-10-CM category for pulmonary edema, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

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.

Can J81 be reported with J68.1?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on J81 lists "chemical (acute) pulmonary edema (J68.1)". 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 J81 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); history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891); occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31); tobacco dependence (F17.-); tobacco use (Z72.0). The additional code is reported after J81.