Respiratory failure, not elsewhere classified (J96) ICD-10-CM
The J96 code range covers respiratory failure, not elsewhere classified with 17 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 12 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
Codes in the J96 Range 17 codes · 12 billable
- J96 Respiratory failure, not elsewhere classifiedNon-billable
- J96.0 Acute respiratory failureNon-billable
- J96.00 Acute respiratory failure, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia
- J96.01 Acute respiratory failure with hypoxia
- J96.02 Acute respiratory failure with hypercapnia
- J96.1 Chronic respiratory failureNon-billable
- J96.10 Chronic respiratory failure, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia
- J96.11 Chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia
- J96.12 Chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia
- J96.2 Acute and chronic respiratory failureNon-billable
- J96.20 Acute and chronic respiratory failure, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia
- J96.21 Acute and chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia
- J96.22 Acute and chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia
- J96.9 Respiratory failure, unspecifiedNon-billable
- J96.90 Respiratory failure, unspecified, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia
- J96.91 Respiratory failure, unspecified with hypoxia
- J96.92 Respiratory failure, unspecified with hypercapnia
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the J96 range.
Hypercapnia
A clinical manifestation of abnormal increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in arterial blood.
About the J96 Code Range
The ICD-10 code section J96 covers various types of respiratory failure not classified elsewhere. It includes codes for acute, chronic, combined acute and chronic respiratory failure, as well as unspecified cases.
This section is used to code respiratory failure conditions characterized by inadequate oxygenation or carbon dioxide removal. The ICD-10 code for acute respiratory failure starts with J96.0, including subcodes like J96.01 for hypoxemic respiratory failure and J96.02 for hypercapnic respiratory failure. Synonyms such as "acute respiratory failure requiring reintubation" help clarify coding choices. Chronic respiratory failure is coded under J96.1 with subcategories for hypoxia (J96.11) and hypercapnia (J96.12). When acute and chronic conditions coexist, codes beginning with J96.2 apply, with options specifying hypoxia or hypercapnia. Unspecified respiratory failure codes, such as J96.9, cover cases without clear classification. Recognizing terms like "hypoxemic respiratory failure," "hypercapnic respiratory failure," or related synonyms assists medical coders and healthcare providers in selecting the precise code for documentation and billing.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the J96 range?
Of the 17 codes in this range, 12 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 J96 range classify?
The range classifies respiratory failure, not elsewhere classified. 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.
