J41.0 ICD-10-CM Code: Simple chronic bronchitis
J41.0 maps to CMS-HCC V28 280. A source-labeled RAF reference is available. Confirm the documented diagnosis and applicable coding requirements. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · free HCC coding tools
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)
J41.0
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceSimple chronic bronchitis
A long-term inflammation of the airways characterized by simple mucus production without pus, typically caused by smoking or environmental irritants.
Buddy Insight
Simple chronic bronchitis represents persistent inflammation of the bronchial airways with chronic productive cough lasting at least three months in two consecutive years without purulent sputum.
CMS-HCC V28
MappedHCC 280
Coefficient HCC 280: 0.319 (Community Non-Dual Aged (CNA))
CMS-HCC V24
HistoricalHistorical
Not used for CY2026 payment
ACA/HHS
Context neededHCC 160, HCC 161_1
Coefficient needs member context
ESRD/PACE
Context neededHCC 111, HCC 112
Coefficient needs member context
RXHCC
MappedHCC 229
Code-level coefficient reference
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialNo inclusion terms are included in this display for J41.0. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Excludes 2
Official- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)Inherited from J00-J99, J40-J4A, J41
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)Inherited from J00-J99, J40-J4A, J41
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)Inherited from J00-J99, J40-J4A, J41
- congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)Inherited from J00-J99, J40-J4A, J41
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)Inherited from J00-J99, J40-J4A, J41
- injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)Inherited from J00-J99, J40-J4A, J41
- neoplasms (C00-D49)Inherited from J00-J99, J40-J4A, J41
- smoke inhalation (T59.81-)Inherited from J00-J99, J40-J4A, J41
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)Inherited from J00-J99, J40-J4A, J41
- cystic fibrosis (E84.-)Inherited from J00-J99, J40-J4A, J41
- chronic bronchitis NOS (J42)Inherited from J00-J99, J40-J4A, J41
- chronic obstructive bronchitis (J44.-)Inherited from J00-J99, J40-J4A, J41
Related Codes
Includes
OfficialNo Includes notes are included in this display for J41.0. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Excludes 1
Official- bronchitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.0)Inherited from J40-J4A
Code First
OfficialNo Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for J41.0. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Use Additional
Official- code, where applicable, to identify:Inherited from J00-J99, J41
- exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)Inherited from J00-J99, J41
- exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)Inherited from J00-J99, J41
- history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)Inherited from J00-J99, J41
- occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)Inherited from J00-J99, J41
- tobacco dependence (F17.-)Inherited from J00-J99, J41
- tobacco use (Z72.0)Inherited from J00-J99, J41
- code to identify:Inherited from J00-J99, J41
Code Also
OfficialNo Code Also instructions are included in this display for J41.0. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
Current with CMS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr 1 update (effective Apr 1 – Sep 30, 2026) · CMS-HCC V28, 100% phased in for payment year 2026. FY2027 code set already staged for October 1, 2026. How HCC Buddy stays current →
Is J41.0 an HCC code?
Yes. J41.0 (Simple chronic bronchitis) maps to HCC 280, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Interstitial Lung Disorders, and Other Chronic Lung Disorders under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, with a source-labeled community non-dual aged reference coefficient of 0.319. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes. It is billable for payment year 2026.
Coder answer: J41.0 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 280, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Interstitial Lung Disorders, and Other Chronic Lung Disorders. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.
- Code
- J41.0
- Description
- Simple chronic bronchitis
- HCC (V28)
- HCC 280 — Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Interstitial Lung Disorders, and Other Chronic Lung Disorders
- RAF reference coefficient
- 0.319
- Billable
- Yes
- Payment year
- 2026
HCC Category Mapping
These are source-labeled model coefficients, not member totals. A category may still be removed by hierarchy or model cleanup rules. Weights are not directly comparable across models: CMS-HCC V28 and V24 use Community, Non-Dual, Aged; ESRD uses the dialysis continuing-enrollee model; RxHCC is the Part D continuing-enrollee, non-low-income, aged weight (a larger scale than CMS-HCC). ACA/HHS has no single weight — it varies by metal level. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains available for historical review.
Work J41.0 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT review for J41.0
For J41.0, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.
- MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
- EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
- AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
- TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis
Coder workflow notes
Get the V28 mapping + MEAT cheat sheet
One printable reference: check representative V28 mappings and the documentation reminders your note needs. Free, no card.
Free PDF. No card. Unsubscribe anytime.
What This Code Means
J41.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for simple chronic bronchitis. A long-term inflammation of the airways characterized by simple mucus production without pus, typically caused by smoking or environmental irritants. J41.0 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).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, J41.0 maps to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Interstitial Lung Disorders, and Other Chronic Lung Disorders (HCC 280) with a source-labeled community, non-dual, aged reference coefficient of 0.319. For CY2026 non-PACE Medicare Advantage, CMS uses 100% of the 2024 CMS-HCC model (V28). PACE uses a separate model blend. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes.
Document the presence of simple mucus production without purulent (pus-containing) sputum to distinguish from J41.1. For J41.0, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule. When documentation is ambiguous, coders should issue a provider query rather than assume the highest-specificity variant.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for J41.0 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
Clinical Significance
Simple chronic bronchitis represents persistent inflammation of the bronchial airways with chronic productive cough lasting at least three months in two consecutive years without purulent sputum. As a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it contributes meaningfully to patient complexity and resource utilization in risk-adjusted payment models.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of chronic cough productive of mucoid (non-purulent) sputum
- ✓Duration: symptoms present for at least 3 months per year for at least 2 consecutive years
- ✓Exclusion of other causes of chronic cough (tuberculosis, lung cancer, etc.)
- ✓Current status and severity of symptoms
- ✓Treatment plan including bronchodilators, smoking cessation, or other respiratory therapies
- ✓Pulmonary function testing results if available
Commonly Confused Codes
- •J41.1: Mucopurulent chronic bronchitis: use when sputum is purulent (yellow-green), not mucoid
- •J42: Unspecified chronic bronchitis: less specific; use J41.0 when documentation specifies simple (non-purulent) type
- •J44.9: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified: use when COPD is documented without further specification; J41.0 is more specific
- •J40: Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic: non-HCC code for non-chronic bronchitis
- •J20.x: Acute bronchitis: completely different condition, does not map to any HCC