J40 ICD-10-CM Code: Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic
HCC Buddy Code Card
Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.
FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99) / Chronic lower respiratory diseases (J40-J4A)
J40
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceBronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic
Inflammation of the airways in the lungs (bronchitis) without clear indication of whether it is acute or chronic in nature.
CMS-HCC V28
N/A—
Not mapped
CMS-HCC V24
N/A—
Not mapped
ACA/HHS
N/A—
Not mapped
ESRD/PACE
N/A—
Not mapped
RXHCC
N/A—
Not mapped
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
Official- Bronchitis NOS
- Bronchitis with tracheitis NOS
- Catarrhal bronchitis
- Tracheobronchitis NOS
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for J40 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
ICD-10-CM does not list child codes under J40 for this display context.
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for J40 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
Official- acute bronchitis (J20.-)
- allergic bronchitis NOS (J45.909)
- asthmatic bronchitis NOS (J45.9-)
- bronchitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.0)
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for J40 in this effective period.
Use Additional
Official- code to identify:
- exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
- exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
- history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
- occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for J40 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.
Is J40 an HCC code?
No. J40 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any HCC category in V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC.
Coder workflow notes
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This code does not map to an HCC category in any model (V28, V24, ESRD, RxHCC).
What This Code Means
J40 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic. Inflammation of the airways in the lungs (bronchitis) without clear indication of whether it is acute or chronic in nature. J40 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the respiratory system (j00-j99), within the section covering chronic lower respiratory diseases (j40-j4a).
J40 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to a payment HCC under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions but it does not contribute to a beneficiary's RAF score and therefore does not affect risk-adjusted payments to the plan.
Query the provider to determine if bronchitis is acute or chronic, as more specific codes (J20 for acute, J41-J42 for chronic) are preferred.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for J40 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.