J41.8
BillableMixed simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 280 — Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
0.334V24HCC 111 — Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
0.334ESRDHCC 111 — Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
0.000RxHCCHCC 229 — COPD and Chronic Bronchitis
0.000What This Code Means
A long-term inflammation of the airways that exhibits both simple mucus production and pus-containing mucus at different times or in different areas.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code when documentation indicates both simple and mucopurulent characteristics are present
- •Ensure the chronic nature is clearly established in the medical record
Clinical Significance
Mixed simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis indicates a patient who experiences periods of both mucoid and purulent sputum production, reflecting variable airway inflammation and intermittent bacterial colonization. This mixed presentation carries the same risk adjustment significance as other chronic bronchitis subtypes.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation of chronic productive cough with both mucoid and purulent sputum at different times
- ✓Duration criteria: at least 3 months per year for 2 consecutive years
- ✓Description of the variable nature of sputum production
- ✓Current disease status and treatment plan
- ✓Smoking history and cessation efforts if applicable
- ✓Pulmonary function testing if available
Commonly Confused Codes
J41.0 — Simple chronic bronchitis: use when sputum is consistently mucoid onlyJ41.1 — Mucopurulent chronic bronchitis: use when sputum is consistently purulentJ42 — Unspecified chronic bronchitis: less specific than J41.8; use when type is not documentedJ44.9 — COPD, unspecified: use when airflow obstruction is documented alongside chronic bronchitis
Code Hierarchy
└J41Simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis└J41.8Mixed simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis
└J41.8Mixed simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis