ICD-10-CM J42 is the diagnosis code for Unspecified chronic bronchitis. This code falls under the section "Chronic lower respiratory diseases" within Chapter 10 — Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99). It is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. Medical coders and healthcare providers use this code to document and classify diagnoses in electronic health records, insurance claims, and clinical databases.
The following conditions should never be coded at the same time as J42. They are mutually exclusive:
Understanding where J42 sits in the ICD-10-CM classification helps ensure proper coding:
Yes, J42 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
J42 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for "Unspecified chronic bronchitis". It is used by healthcare providers to classify and document this condition in medical records and insurance claims.
J42 is located in Section J40-J4A — "Chronic lower respiratory diseases" within Chapter 10 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.
Use J42 when the patients documented diagnosis matches "Unspecified chronic bronchitis" and the clinical documentation supports this level of specificity. Always verify with the latest ICD-10-CM guidelines and payer requirements.
The ICD-10-CM code for Unspecified chronic bronchitis is J42.
Yes, J42 can be used as a primary diagnosis code since it is billable and specific.
J42 is in Chapter 10 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.
Type 1 Excludes for J42 include: bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (J44.81); chronic asthmatic bronchitis (J44.-); chronic bronchitis with airways obstruction (J44.-) and more.
Yes, J42 is a valid ICD-10-CM code for the 2026 fiscal year, subject to official CMS updates.