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Compare/J15 vs P23.9

J15 vs P23.9

J15 (Bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified) compared with P23.9 (Congenital pneumonia, unspecified), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.

Can these codes be reported together?

No — do not report together. J15 carries an Excludes1 note covering P23.9: “congenital pneumonia (P23.-)”

Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Yes, when both are documented. J15 carries an Excludes2 note covering P23.9: “congenital pneumonia (P23.9)”

Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.

Side by side

J15Bacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classifiedP23.9Congenital pneumonia, unspecified
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: J15.0, J15.1, J15.20, J15.211, J15.212

Billable
ClassificationJ00-J99 — Diseases of the Respiratory System (J00-J99)P00-P96 — Certain Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period (P00-P96)
DefinitionBacterial pneumonia, not elsewhere classified is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (J15).Congenital pneumonia, unspecified is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (P23.9).
Includes
bronchopneumonia due to bacteria other than S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae
infective pneumonia acquired in utero or during birth
Use additional code
code, if applicable, to identify resistance to antimicrobial drugs (Z16.-)
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