ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for acute or subacute bronchitis
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous) › acute or subacute (with bronchospasm or obstruction)”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding acute or subacute bronchitis
The ICD-10-CM code for acute or subacute bronchitis is J20.9 (Acute bronchitis, unspecified). The official index lists 15 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on J20.9.
Within J20, choose J20.9 (unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae (J20.0), due to Hemophilus influenzae (J20.1), due to streptococcus (J20.2), due to coxsackievirus (J20.3), due to parainfluenza virus (J20.4), due to respiratory syncytial virus (J20.5), due to rhinovirus (J20.6), due to echovirus (J20.7) and 1 more.
It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 202 (Bronchitis and Asthma with CC/MCC, relative weight 0.9474) and DRG 203 (Bronchitis and Asthma without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.6512), in MDC 04 (Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.
More specific acute or subacute bronchitis codes (official index)
- with
- bronchiectasis J47.0 — Bronchiectasis with acute lower respiratory infection
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease J44.0 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) lower respiratory infection
- chemical (due to gases, fumes or vapors) J68.0 — Bronchitis and pneumonitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
- due to
- fumes or vapors J68.0 — Bronchitis and pneumonitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
- Haemophilus influenzae J20.1 — Acute bronchitis due to Hemophilus influenzae
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae J20.0 — Acute bronchitis due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- radiation J70.0 — Acute pulmonary manifestations due to radiation
- specified organism NEC J20.8 — Acute bronchitis due to other specified organisms
- Streptococcus J20.2 — Acute bronchitis due to streptococcus
- virus
- coxsackie J20.3 — Acute bronchitis due to coxsackievirus
- echovirus J20.7 — Acute bronchitis due to echovirus
- parainfluenzae J20.4 — Acute bronchitis due to parainfluenza virus
- respiratory syncytial (RSV) J20.5 — Acute bronchitis due to respiratory syncytial virus
- rhinovirus J20.6 — Acute bronchitis due to rhinovirus
- viral NEC J20.8 — Acute bronchitis due to other specified organisms
Common questions about acute or subacute bronchitis ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for acute or subacute bronchitis?
- J20.9 — Acute bronchitis, unspecified. More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: J47.0, J44.0, J68.0, J68.0 and others below.
What is the ICD-10 code for chemical acute or subacute bronchitis?
- J68.0 — Bronchitis and pneumonitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors.
What is the ICD-10 code for viral nec acute or subacute bronchitis?
- J20.8 — Acute bronchitis due to other specified organisms.
Is J20.9 billable?
- Yes. J20.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can J20.9 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict J20.9 as a principal diagnosis.
Is J20.9 a CC or MCC?
- No. J20.9 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.