Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (J44) ICD-10-CM
The J44 code range covers other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with 7 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 5 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Includes
This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
- asthma with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- chronic asthmatic (obstructive) bronchitis
- chronic bronchitis with airway obstruction
- chronic bronchitis with emphysema
- chronic emphysematous bronchitis
- chronic obstructive asthma
- chronic obstructive bronchitis
- chronic obstructive tracheobronchitis
Code Also
A "code also" note instructs that two codes may be required to fully describe a condition, but this note does not provide sequencing direction.
- type of asthma, if applicable J45
Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
Codes in the J44 Range 7 codes · 5 billable
- J44 Other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseNon-billable
- J44.0 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) lower respiratory infection
- J44.1 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation
- J44.8 Other specified chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseNon-billable
- J44.81 Bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome
- J44.89 Other specified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- J44.9 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified
About the J44 Code Range
The ICD-10 code section J44 covers various forms of other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including cases with acute infections, exacerbations, and specific types like bronchiolitis obliterans. These codes help identify precise COPD conditions that are distinct from more common types.
Within this section, J44.0 is used for COPD accompanied by acute lower respiratory infections, often described as acute bronchitis or infective flare-ups. The code J44.1 applies to COPD with acute exacerbations, which might include terms like emphysematous bronchitis or asthmatic bronchitis flare-ups. For less common forms, J44.81 codes for bronchiolitis obliterans—a chronic obstructive condition sometimes called obliterative or chronic bronchiolitis. Other specified COPD types fall under J44.8 and J44.89. Finally, J44.9 is used when COPD is unspecified, covering a broad range of COPD-related conditions including asthma-COPD overlap and pulmonary hypertension due to lung disease. Understanding these distinctions aids accurate coding for different clinical scenarios related to COPD.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the J44 range?
Of the 7 codes in this range, 5 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the J44 range classify?
The range classifies other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
