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HCC Buddy Code Book

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HCC Buddy
HCC Buddy
Alphabetic Index and Tabular path
HCC Buddy public API, FY2026 Apr updateSource load source requiredSource year 2026Updated 2026-04-01

Index trail

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

See Tabular List: J44.9

J44, Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

J44.9, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified

Selected code, source checked for the selected effective period

Commonly confused codes

official source

Not listed for this effective period.

Code details and official notes

J44.9

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified

Open the shareable code page for J44.9→
billableHCC mapped

Includes

official source
  • Chronic obstructive airway disease NOS
  • Chronic obstructive lung disease NOS
  • 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

Excludes 1

official source

No Excludes 1 note is listed in this source payload.

Excludes 2

official source
  • lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70)
  • bronchiectasis (J47.-)
  • chronic bronchitis NOS (J42)
  • chronic simple and mucopurulent bronchitis (J41.-)
  • chronic tracheitis (J42)
  • chronic tracheobronchitis (J42)
  • emphysema without chronic bronchitis (J43.-)

Code First

official source

Not listed for this effective period.

Use Additional

official source

Not listed for this effective period.

Code Also

official source
  • type of asthma, if applicable (J45.-)

7th character

official source

Not listed for this code in the selected Tabular payload.

Placeholder X

official source

Not listed for this code in the selected Tabular payload.

Laterality

official source

No laterality instruction is listed for this code in the selected Tabular payload.

Effective period

source required
  • FY2026 Apr update
  • Source year 2026
  • Updated 2026-04-01
  • HCC Buddy public API
HCC Buddy
HCC Buddy
Alphabetic Index and Tabular path
HCC Buddy public API, FY2026 Apr updateSource load source requiredSource year 2026Updated 2026-04-01

Index trail

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

See Tabular List: J44.9

J44, Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

J44.9, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified

Selected code, source checked for the selected effective period

Commonly confused codes

official source

Not listed for this effective period.

Code details and official notes

J44.9

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified

Open the shareable code page for J44.9→
billableHCC mapped

Includes

official source
  • Chronic obstructive airway disease NOS
  • Chronic obstructive lung disease NOS
  • 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

Excludes 1

official source

No Excludes 1 note is listed in this source payload.

Excludes 2

official source
  • lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70)
  • bronchiectasis (J47.-)
  • chronic bronchitis NOS (J42)
  • chronic simple and mucopurulent bronchitis (J41.-)
  • chronic tracheitis (J42)
  • chronic tracheobronchitis (J42)
  • emphysema without chronic bronchitis (J43.-)

Code First

official source

Not listed for this effective period.

Use Additional

official source

Not listed for this effective period.

Code Also

official source
  • type of asthma, if applicable (J45.-)

7th character

official source

Not listed for this code in the selected Tabular payload.

Placeholder X

official source

Not listed for this code in the selected Tabular payload.

Laterality

official source

No laterality instruction is listed for this code in the selected Tabular payload.

Effective period

source required
  • FY2026 Apr update
  • Source year 2026
  • Updated 2026-04-01
  • HCC Buddy public API
HCC Buddy Insights

HCC Mapping

HCC 280 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Interstitial Lung Disorders, and Other Chronic Lung Disorders (V28)HCC 111 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (V24)HCC 229 COPD and Chronic Bronchitis (RxHCC)HCC 111 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (ESRD/PACE)HCC 160 HHS-HCC 160; HHS-HCC 2026 benefit year (HHS-HCC)

RAF Value

V28: RAF: 0.319V24: RAF: 0.335RxHCC: RAF: 0.237ESRD/PACE: RAF: 0.058HHS-HCC: RAF: Varies by metal level

Model Period

FY2026 Apr update

Source

source required

Audit Caution

Close codes need documentation support before selection. Do not assume relationships.
Reviewed by the HCC Buddy Coding Team

HCC Buddy workflow band

HCC mapping, RAF, MEAT, source trail, and audit caution stay in view.

MEAT supportaudit cautionsource required

V28

HCC 280

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Interstitial Lung Disorders, and Other Chronic Lung Disorders

RAF: 0.319

V24

HCC 111

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

RAF: 0.335

RxHCC

RxHCC 229

COPD and Chronic Bronchitis

RAF: 0.237

ESRD/PACE

HCC 111

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

RAF: 0.058

HHS-HCC

HCC 160

HHS-HCC 160; HHS-HCC 2026 benefit year

RAF: Varies by metal level

MEAT checklist

Reviewed by the HCC Buddy Coding Team

Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat must be supported in the provider note.

HCC Buddy guidance, not official ICD-10-CM text.

Audit caution

Reviewed by the HCC Buddy Coding Team

Close codes need documentation support before selection. Do not assume relationships.

HCC Buddy guidance, not official ICD-10-CM text.

Reviewer sign-off

Reviewed by the HCC Buddy Coding Team

MEAT, documentation support, audit cautions, and close-code guidance are reviewed and approved for this effective period.

HCC Buddy enrichment is separate from official source text.

Last updated: April 1, 2026 · Not a substitute for official coding guidelines. No PHI or patient data.
HCC Buddy Code Card
FY 2026 Apr update
J44.9Billable

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified

CMS-HCC V28

HCC 280

RAF 0.319

CMS-HCC V24

HCC 111

RAF 0.335

RxHCC

RxHCC 229

RAF 0.237

Reviewed by the HCC Buddy Coding TeamFY2026 Apr update

Code

J44.9

V28 HCC

HCC 280

RAF

0.319

Compare tray

Add close codes to compare documentation differences.

What the Online Code Book Does

What the online code book doesA tabbed ICD-10-CM code book on the left connects to an HCC mapping panel showing the HCC category, RAF value, MEAT support, and the ICD-10-CM source label.Tabbed ICD-10-CMHCC mapping & RAFE11.65I50.22J44.9N18.32Notes & highlights savedE11.65HCC 38RAF weightMEAT supportMEATSource · ICD-10-CM 2026

The online ICD-10-CM code book keeps the full tabbed index next to its HCC mapping, RAF values, MEAT support, and source labels, so coders can move from a diagnosis to its risk-adjustment context without leaving the page. Notes and highlights stay attached to each code for the next pass.