2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J81.1Chronic pulmonary edema

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J80-J84›J81

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

J81.1 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for chronic pulmonary edema. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified and unspecified lower respiratory disease.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J81.1
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Chronic pulmonary edema
Short Description
Chronic pulmonary edema
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
J81
Pulmonary edema

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ80-J84Other respiratory diseases principally affecting the interstitium
CategoryJ81Pulmonary edema
This CodeJ81.1Chronic pulmonary edema

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Chronic pulmonary congestion
  • Chronic pulmonary edema
  • Edema due to hypoproteinemia
  • Gestational edema
  • Hemorrhagic pulmonary edema
  • Hypertension in the puerperium with pulmonary edema
  • Neurogenic pulmonary edema
  • Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema
  • Postoperative pulmonary edema
  • Postpartum edema
  • Pregnancy induced hypertension with pulmonary edema
  • Pulmonary congestion
  • Pulmonary congestion and hypostasis
  • Pulmonary edema
  • Pulmonary edema due to hypoproteinemia
  • Pulmonary hypostasis
  • Respiratory tract congestion

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Pulmonary congestion (chronic) (passive)
  • Pulmonary edema NOS

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.

    • Edema, edematous(infectious) (pitting) (toxic)
      • lung
    • Edema, edematous(infectious) (pitting) (toxic)
      • lung
        • chronic

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR RSP016
Other specified and unspecified lower respiratory disease
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

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.

Convert J81.1 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
514 Pulm congest/hypostasis
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 J81.1Overview

Is J81.1 (Pulmonary edema) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report chronic pulmonary edema on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of J81.1?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, chronic pulmonary edema converts to ICD-9-CM 514 (pulm congest/hypostasis). 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.