J15 vs J95.851
J15 (Bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified) compared with J95.851 (Ventilator associated pneumonia), from the official CMS tabular data. Both may be reported when both conditions are documented (Excludes2).
Can these codes be reported together?
Yes, when both are documented. J15 carries an Excludes2 note covering J95.851: “ventilator associated pneumonia (J95.851)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| J15Bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified | J95.851Ventilator associated pneumonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Billable |
| Classification | J00-J99 — Diseases of the Respiratory System (J00-J99) | J00-J99 — Diseases of the Respiratory System (J00-J99) |
| Definition | Bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (J15). | Ventilator associated pneumonia is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (J95.851). |
| Includes | bronchopneumonia due to bacteria other than S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae | Ventilator associated pneumonitis |
| Use additional code | code, if applicable, to identify resistance to antimicrobial drugs (Z16.-) | code to identify the organism, if known (B95.-, B96.-, B97.-) |
| Code first | , if applicable, associated influenza (J09.X1, J10.0-, J11.0-) | — |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources