2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J93Pneumothorax and air leak

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J90-J94›J93

ICD-10-CM J93
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

J93 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for pneumothorax and air leak, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as J93.0, J93.11, J93.12, and J93.81.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J93
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Pneumothorax and air leak
Short Description
Pneumothorax and air leak
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
J90-J94
Other diseases of the pleura

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ90-J94Other diseases of the pleura
CategoryJ93Pneumothorax and air leak
This CodeJ93Pneumothorax and air leak

Specific Coding for Pneumothorax and air leakOverview

Non-specific codes like J93 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use J93.0 for Spontaneous tension pneumothorax

  • J93.1 for Other spontaneous pneumothorax

  • Use J93.11 for Primary spontaneous pneumothorax

  • Use J93.12 for Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax

  • J93.8 for Other pneumothorax and air leak

  • Use J93.81 for Chronic pneumothorax

  • Use J93.82 for Other air leak

  • Use J93.83 for Other pneumothorax

  • Use J93.9 for Pneumothorax, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to J93: 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.

  • congenital or perinatal pneumothorax (P25.1)
  • postprocedural air leak (J95.812)
  • postprocedural pneumothorax (J95.811)
  • traumatic pneumothorax (S27.0)
  • tuberculous (current disease) pneumothorax (A15.-)
  • pyopneumothorax (J86.-)

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.

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 J93, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming J93: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • S27.0 Traumatic pneumothorax
    spontaneous pneumothorax (J93.-)

Patient EducationClinical

Pleural Disorders

Your pleura is a large, thin sheet of tissue that wraps around the outside of your lungs and lines the inside of your chest cavity. Between the layers of the pleura is a very thin space. Normally it's filled with a small amount of fluid.

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 J93Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for pneumothorax and air leak?

J93 is the ICD-10-CM category for pneumothorax and air leak, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is J93 (Pneumothorax and air leak) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for pneumothorax and air leak, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for pneumothorax and air leak need a more specific code from this category, such as J93.0, J93.11, and J93.12.

Can J93 be reported with P25.1?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on J93 lists "congenital or perinatal pneumothorax (P25.1)". 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).