J47.0
BillableBronchiectasis with acute lower respiratory infection
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 280 — Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
0.334V24HCC 112 — Fibrosis of Lung and Other Chronic Lung Disorders
0.268ESRDHCC 112 — Fibrosis of Lung and Other Chronic Lung Disorders
0.000RxHCCHCC 229 — COPD and Chronic Bronchitis
0.000What This Code Means
A chronic lung condition with permanent airway damage (bronchiectasis) that is currently complicated by an acute infection of the lower respiratory tract.
Coding Tips
- •Requires documentation of both bronchiectasis and an acute lower respiratory infection
- •Identify the specific type of infection present to support medical necessity
Clinical Significance
Bronchiectasis with acute lower respiratory infection represents a patient with chronic, irreversible dilation of the bronchial airways who develops a superimposed acute infection. This combination significantly increases clinical complexity, as bronchiectasis patients already have impaired airway clearance, and acute infections can rapidly lead to respiratory decline and hospitalization.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Established diagnosis of bronchiectasis confirmed by CT imaging showing permanently dilated airways
- ✓Documentation of acute lower respiratory infection: fever, increased sputum volume/purulence, new infiltrate
- ✓The specific acute infection should be identified and coded separately when the organism is known
- ✓Sputum culture results and antibiotic sensitivity
- ✓Baseline bronchiectasis status and how the infection differs from baseline
- ✓Treatment plan for both the underlying bronchiectasis and the acute infection
Code Also
- to identify infection, if applicable
Commonly Confused Codes
J47.1 — Bronchiectasis with acute exacerbation: use when symptoms worsen without a documented infectionJ47.9 — Bronchiectasis, uncomplicated: use for stable bronchiectasis without infection or exacerbationJ44.0 — COPD with acute lower respiratory infection: use for COPD, not bronchiectasis; some patients may have bothJ18.9 — Pneumonia, unspecified: code additionally to identify the acute infection when appropriate
Code Hierarchy
└J47Bronchiectasis└J47.0Bronchiectasis with acute lower respiratory infection
└J47.0Bronchiectasis with acute lower respiratory infection