J41.0 ICD-10-CM Code: Simple chronic bronchitis

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for J41.0 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Notes without a marker are published on J41.0 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for J41.0

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code J41.0

1. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with J41.0. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

   See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

1. Does the documentation support a condition named in J41.0’s Excludes1 note?
   Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
   No → Continue.

   ReviewJ68.0

Consider J41.0. Then work the Use Additional Code note, and confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Acuity

Acute or chronic as documented; when both are documented and separate codes exist, both are reported with the acute code first (Guidelines I.B.8).

The conditions the Use Additional Code note names

Reported with this code when documented; a conditional instruction (“if applicable”, “if known”) applies only when the record supports it.

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes1 — check before selecting J41.0(1 note)

  Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with J41.0: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

  CompareJ68.0

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

• Excludes2 — not part of J41.0(3 notes)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in J41.0. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareJ42, J44, E84

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

• Use Additional Code — after identifying J41.0(7 notes)

  Coding workflow: Check whether the documentation supports the additional code(s) the note names, and report them with J41.0 when it does. Where the instruction is conditional (“if applicable”, “if known”), it applies only when the record documents the condition.

  ReviewZ77.22, P96.81, Z87.891, Z57.31, F17, Z72.0

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.13

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Indexed Clinical Terms (9)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

• Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous), catarrhal (l5 years of age and above), chronic
• Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous), chronic, catarrhal
• Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous), chronic, due to, tobacco smoking
• Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous), chronic, non-obstructive
• Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous), chronic, simple
• Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous), smokers'
• Cough (affected) (epidemic) (nervous), smokers'
• Smoker's, bronchitis
• Smoker's, cough

Don’t confuse J41.0 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of J41.0 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• J68.0— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of bronchitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors moves the case to J68.0; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: J41.0 vs J68.0 →

• J42— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of chronic bronchitis NOS adds J42; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: J41.0 vs J42 →

• J44— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of chronic obstructive bronchitis adds J44; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: J41.0 vs J44 →

• E84— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of cystic fibrosis adds E84; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: J41.0 vs E84 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Decision Points

The directives on this code's own record, as a pre-claim checklist.

1. 7 Use Additional Code instructions — report the named additional code(s) when the documentation supports them. See the Use Additional Code notes
2. 1 Excludes1 entry — codes named there are generally not reported together with this code (Guidelines I.A.12.a). See the Excludes1 notes
3. 3 Excludes2 entries — those conditions are not part of this code and may be reported additionally when documented. See the Excludes2 notes

Checklist rows are derived from this code's own official directives; the wording of each check is MedCoder editorial. The official notes themselves are in the sections each row links to.

Verify Before Coding

• No Medicare Code Editor or MS-DRG Definitions Manual restrictions apply to this code.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name J41.0 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 2 Excludes1 notes across 2 chapters: J42 — Unspecified chronic bronchitis (via J41.-), R05 — Cough.

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 2 Excludes2 notes: J20 — Acute bronchitis, J44 — Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (via J41.-).

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2026 MS-DRG: not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity for that release.

Named in the grouper logic of 2 MS-DRGs: DRG 202 (MDC 04), DRG 203 (MDC 04).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):RSP008 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same CMS-HCC risk category (V28)

CMS maps these diagnoses to the same Hierarchical Condition Category (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Interstitial Lung Disorders, and Other Chronic Lung Disorders) for risk-adjusted payment.

B44.81 — Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, J41.1 — Mucopurulent chronic bronchitis, J41.8 — Mixed simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis, J42 — Unspecified chronic bronchitis, J43.0 — Unilateral pulmonary emphysema [MacLeod's syndrome], J43.1 — Panlobular emphysema, J43.2 — Centrilobular emphysema, J43.8 — Other emphysema, J43.9 — Emphysema, unspecified, J44.0 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) lower respiratory infection, J44.1 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation, J44.81 — Bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, J44.89 — Other specified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, J44.9 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified, J47.0 — Bronchiectasis with acute lower respiratory infection, J47.1 — Bronchiectasis with (acute) exacerbation, J47.9 — Bronchiectasis, uncomplicated, J60 — Coalworker's pneumoconiosis, J61 — Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers, J62.0 — Pneumoconiosis due to talc dust, +58 more

Related risk categories

These categories interact through CMS's HCC hierarchy — one can suppress the other's risk-adjustment weight when both are present on a claim.

Lung Transplant Status/Complications, Cystic Fibrosis, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Lung Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis, Severe Persistent Asthma

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis).

J41.1 — Mucopurulent chronic bronchitis, J41.8 — Mixed simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis, J42 — Unspecified chronic bronchitis, J43.0 — Unilateral pulmonary emphysema [MacLeod's syndrome], J43.1 — Panlobular emphysema, J43.2 — Centrilobular emphysema, J43.8 — Other emphysema, J43.9 — Emphysema, unspecified, J44.0 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) lower respiratory infection, J44.1 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation, J44.81 — Bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, J44.89 — Other specified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, J44.9 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, unspecified, J47.0 — Bronchiectasis with acute lower respiratory infection, J47.1 — Bronchiectasis with (acute) exacerbation, J47.9 — Bronchiectasis, uncomplicated, J4A.8 — Other chronic lung allograft dysfunction, J4A.9 — Chronic lung allograft dysfunction, unspecified

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main terms “Bronchitis”, “Smoker's”, “Cough”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

J20.2 — Acute bronchitis due to streptococcus (pneumococcal, acute or subacute), J20.3 — Acute bronchitis due to coxsackievirus (acute or subacute, due to, virus, coxsackie), J20.4 — Acute bronchitis due to parainfluenza virus (acute or subacute, due to, virus, parainfluenzae), J20.5 — Acute bronchitis due to respiratory syncytial virus (acute or subacute, due to, virus, respiratory syncytial), J20.6 — Acute bronchitis due to rhinovirus (acute or subacute, due to, virus, rhinovirus), J20.7 — Acute bronchitis due to echovirus (acute or subacute, due to, virus, echovirus), J20.8 — Acute bronchitis due to other specified organisms (acute or subacute, viral NEC), J20.9 — Acute bronchitis, unspecified (acute or subacute), J31.2 — Chronic pharyngitis (throat), J40 — Bronchitis, not specified as acute or chronic, J42 — Unspecified chronic bronchitis (senile), J44.0 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) lower respiratory infection (asthmatic, chronic, with, acute lower respiratory infection), J44.1 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation (asthmatic, chronic, with, exacerbation), J44.89 — Other specified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (obstructive), J45.9 — Other and unspecified asthma (asthmatic), J45.901 — Unspecified asthma with (acute) exacerbation (allergic, with, exacerbation), J45.902 — Unspecified asthma with status asthmaticus (allergic, with, status asthmaticus), J45.909 — Unspecified asthma, uncomplicated (allergic), J47.0 — Bronchiectasis with acute lower respiratory infection (acute or subacute, with, bronchiectasis), J62.8 — Pneumoconiosis due to other dust containing silica (moulder's), +21 more

Lab tests where this diagnosis supports Medicare coverage (NCD)

Medicare's National Coverage Determination (NCD) program lists this diagnosis as medical justification for these lab tests.

Blood Glucose Test

Contextual Map

Every relationship of J41.0 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run J41.0 with these 4 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

• J00-J99 — Chapter 10: Diseases of the Respiratory System (J00-J99) (J00-J99)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• J40-J4A — Chronic lower respiratory diseases[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

• J42 — Unspecified chronic bronchitis[Excludes1](via J41.-): “simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis (J41.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• R05 — Cough[Excludes1]: “smoker's cough (J41.0)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

• J20 — Acute bronchitis[Excludes2]: “chronic simple bronchitis (J41.0)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• J44 — Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease[Excludes2](via J41.-): “chronic simple and mucopurulent bronchitis (J41.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

• RSP008 — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)

Risk adjustment (CMS-HCC)

• HCC 280 — Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Interstitial Lung Disorders, and Other Chronic Lung Disorders [CMS-HCC]— CMS-HCC V28 · 2026

MS-DRG Grouper

• DRG 202 — BRONCHITIS AND ASTHMA WITH CC/MCC[MS-DRG]: “BRONCHITIS AND ASTHMA WITH CC/MCC (MDC 04)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 203 — BRONCHITIS AND ASTHMA WITHOUT CC/MCC[MS-DRG]: “BRONCHITIS AND ASTHMA WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 04)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026

MDC crossing

• MDC 04 — Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 3,998 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries (9)

• Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous), catarrhal (l5 years of age and above), chronic[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous), chronic, catarrhal[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous), chronic, due to, tobacco smoking[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous), chronic, non-obstructive[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous), chronic, simple[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Bronchitis (diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous), smokers'[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Cough (affected) (epidemic) (nervous), smokers'[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Smoker's, bronchitis[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 1 more

Nearest codes

• J41 — Simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• J41.1 — Mucopurulent chronic bronchitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• J41.8 — Mixed simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Change history

• FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data

CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Inpatient payment groups Official source data

CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v43 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Risk adjustment Official source data

2026 Mid-Year Final ICD-10 Mappings + Model Software (cms.gov/files/zip/2026-midyear-final-icd-10-mappings.zip, 2026-midyear-final-model-software.zip) — CMS-HCC V28, PY2026 mid-year final release Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data

CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship

Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears

Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation

Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to J41.0 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• J41 — Simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis
• J41.1 — Mucopurulent chronic bronchitis
• J41.8 — Mixed simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis

View all codes in the J41 family