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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 with (acute) exacerbation

See Tabular List: J44.1

J44, Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

J44.1, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation

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

J44.1

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation

Open the shareable code page for J44.1→
billableHCC mapped

Includes

official source
  • Decompensated COPD
  • Decompensated COPD with (acute) exacerbation
  • 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
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] with acute bronchitis (J44.0)
  • 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 with (acute) exacerbation

See Tabular List: J44.1

J44, Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

J44.1, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation

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

J44.1

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation

Open the shareable code page for J44.1→
billableHCC mapped

Includes

official source
  • Decompensated COPD
  • Decompensated COPD with (acute) exacerbation
  • 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
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] with acute bronchitis (J44.0)
  • 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)HHS-HCC source required or member context needed for selected effective period (HHS-HCC)

RAF Value

V28: RAF: 0.319V24: RAF: 0.335RxHCC: RAF: 0.237ESRD/PACE: RAF: 0.058HHS-HCC RAF source required

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

source required

HHS-HCC source required or member context needed for selected effective period

RAF: source required

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
J44.1Billable

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation

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

J44.1

V28 HCC

HCC 280

RAF

0.319

Compare tray

Add close codes to compare documentation differences.