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J40

Billable

Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic

This code does not map to an HCC category in any model (V28, V24, ESRD, RxHCC).

What This Code Means

Inflammation of the airways in the lungs (bronchitis) without clear indication of whether it is acute or chronic in nature.

Coding Tips

  • •Query the provider to determine if bronchitis is acute or chronic, as more specific codes (J20 for acute, J41-J42 for chronic) are preferred
  • •Document the duration and characteristics of symptoms to support acute versus chronic classification

Excludes 1 — Do NOT code together

  • acute bronchitis (J20.-)
  • allergic bronchitis NOS (J45.909)
  • asthmatic bronchitis NOS (J45.9-)
  • bronchitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.0)

Use Additional Code

  • 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)
  • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
  • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Code Hierarchy

└J40Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic
└J40Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic

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