2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J96.12Chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J96-J99›J96

ICD-10-CM J96.12
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

J96.12 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). Coders also document this condition as chronic hypercapnia. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Respiratory failure; insufficiency; arrest.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J96.12
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia
Short Description
Chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
J96.1
Chronic respiratory failure

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ96-J99Other diseases of the respiratory system
CategoryJ96Respiratory failure, not elsewhere classified
This CodeJ96.12Chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Chronic hypercapnia
  • Chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure
  • Chronic respiratory acidosis
  • Chronic respiratory failure
  • Hypercapnia
  • Hypercapnic respiratory failure
  • Respiratory acidosis

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Chronic respiratory acidosis

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.

    • Acidosis(lactic)
      • respiratory
        • chronic
    • Failure, failed
      • respiration, respiratory
        • chronic
          • with
            • hypercapnia
    • Failure, failed
      • respiration, respiratory
        • chronic
          • with
            • hypercarbia

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR RSP012
Respiratory failure; insufficiency; arrest
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Hypercapnia

    a clinical manifestation of abnormal increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in arterial blood.

  • Respiratory Acidosis

    acid base imbalance resulting from an accumulation of carbon dioxide secondary to hypoventilation.

  • Respiratory Acidosis|Hypercapnic Acidosis

    a condition in which the blood ph is less than normal, secondary to impaired gas exchange.

Patient EducationClinical

Respiratory Failure

Respiratory failure is a condition in which your blood doesn't have enough oxygen or has too much carbon dioxide. Sometimes you can have both problems.

The full article covers:

  • What is respiratory failure?
  • What causes respiratory failure?
  • What are the symptoms of respiratory failure?
  • How is respiratory failure diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for respiratory failure?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert J96.12 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
518.83 Chronic respiratory fail
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 J96.12Overview

Is J96.12 (Chronic respiratory failure) a billable code?

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

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of J96.12?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia converts to ICD-9-CM 518.83 (chronic respiratory fail). 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.