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ICD10BillableValid for clinical use

ICD-10 Code J42: Unspecified chronic bronchitis

J42 is a billable ICD-10 diagnosis code used to classify Unspecified chronic bronchitis in medical records and claims. You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records. ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99).

What is this code?

ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99).

When is it used?

  • May be used when a clinician documents unspecified chronic bronchitis in a patient's medical record.
  • May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
  • This code can be used as a clinically usable diagnosis entry in standardized coding workflows.

What it does not mean

  • A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
  • A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.

Code hierarchy

chapter
10Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
block
J40-J4AChronic lower respiratory diseases
currentJ40-J4A

Official coding notes

Inclusion terms
  • Chronic bronchitis NOS
  • Chronic tracheitis
  • Chronic tracheobronchitis
Applicable to
  • code to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
  • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
  • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
  • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
  • tobacco use (Z72.0)
Excludes1 (do not code together)
  • bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (J44.81)
  • chronic asthmatic bronchitis (J44.-)
  • chronic bronchitis with airways obstruction (J44.-)
  • chronic emphysematous bronchitis (J44.-)
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease NOS (J44.9)
  • simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis (J41.-)
Use additional code
  • code to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
  • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
  • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
  • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
  • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Where you may see this code

You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records.

Related specialists

PulmonologistGeneral Physician

Coding guidelines

Compatibility

Legacy and official ICD code match exactly.
Legacy codes
J42

Common synonyms

Unspecified chronic bronchitis

Frequently asked questions

Code details

CodeJ42
SystemICD10
Display nameUnspecified chronic bronchitis
ChapterDiseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
BlockChronic lower respiratory diseases

Flags

BillableYes
Valid clinical useYes

Source

SourceICD-10
Version2026-annual
Releaseannual
Year2026

Index terms

Matched terms
Bronchitis(diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)Bronchitis(diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)Bronchitis(diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)Bronchitis(diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)Bronchitis(diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)Bronchitis(diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)Bronchitis(diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)Bronchitis(diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous)BronchorrheaInfection, infected, infective(opportunistic)Pharyngotracheitis, chronicTracheitis(catarrhal) (infantile) (membranous) (plastic) (septal) (suppurative) (viral)
See also
Disease, respiratory, chronic, due to chemicals, gases, fumes or vapors

About this content

This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.