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J45 vs J68

J45 (Asthma) compared with J68 (Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors), 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. J68 carries an Excludes2 note covering J45: “asthma (J45.-)”

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

Side by side

J45AsthmaJ68Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: J45.20, J45.21, J45.22, J45.30, J45.31

Non-billable header

Report instead: J68.0, J68.1, J68.2, J68.3, J68.4

ClassificationJ00-J99 — Diseases of the Respiratory System (J00-J99)J00-J99 — Diseases of the Respiratory System (J00-J99)
DefinitionAsthma is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (J45).Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (J68).
Includes
allergic (predominantly) asthma
allergic bronchitis NOS
allergic rhinitis with asthma
atopic asthma
Use additional code
code to identify:
eosinophilic asthma (J82.83)
exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
code to identify associated respiratory conditions, such as:
acute respiratory failure (J96.0-)
Code first
(T51-T65) to identify cause

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources