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J96.1

Chronic respiratory failure

Not billable — category only FY2026 2025-10-01 → 2026-09-30
Exclusions 16 never code together
J96code
Excludes1
  • acute respiratory distress syndrome (J80)J80
  • cardiorespiratory failure (R09.2)R09.2
  • newborn respiratory distress syndrome (P22.0)P22.0
  • postprocedural respiratory failure (J95.82-)J95.82-
  • respiratory arrest (R09.2)R09.2
  • respiratory arrest of newborn (P28.81)P28.81
  • respiratory failure of newborn (P28.5)P28.5
J00-J99chapter
Excludes2
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)P04-P96
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)A00-B99
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)O00-O9A
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)Q00-Q99
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)E00-E88
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)S00-T88
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)C00-D49
  • smoke inhalation (T59.81-)T59.81-
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)R00-R94

Excludes1 — never code together. The excluded condition and this one are mutually exclusive.

Excludes2 — not included here, but the patient may have both. Code both when documented.

Instructional notes 8
J00-J99chapter
Notes
  • When a respiratory condition is described as occurring in more than one site and is not specifically indexed, it should be classified to the lower anatomic site (e.g. tracheobronchitis to bronchitis in J40).J40
Use additional code
  • code, where applicable, to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)Z77.22
  • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)P96.81
  • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)Z87.891
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)Z57.31
  • tobacco dependence (F17.-)F17.-
  • tobacco use (Z72.0)Z72.0
Official Guidelines 9 names this code

ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, quoted in full. Published by CMS and NCHS; in the public domain.

I.C.21.c.3 Status names this code p.93

Status codes indicate that a patient is either a carrier of a disease or has the sequelae or residual of a past disease or condition. This includes such things as the presence of prosthetic or mechanical devices resulting from past treatment. A status code is informative, because the status may affect the course of treatment and its outcome. A status code is distinct from a history code. The history code indicates that the patient no longer has the condition. A status code should not be used with a diagnosis code from one of the body system chapters, if the diagnosis code includes the information provided by the status code. For example, code Z94.1, Heart transplant status, should not be used with a code from subcategory T86.2, Complications of heart transplant. The status code does not provide additional information. The complication code indicates that the patient is a heart transplant patient. For encounters for weaning from a mechanical ventilator, assign a code from subcategory J96.1, Chronic respiratory failure, followed by code Z99.11, Dependence on respirator [ventilator] status. The status Z codes/categories are: Z14 Genetic carrier Genetic carrier status indicates that a person carries a gene, associated with a particular disease, which may be passed to offspring who may develop that disease. The person does not have the disease and is not at risk of developing the disease. Z15 Genetic susceptibility to disease Genetic susceptibility indicates that a person has a gene that increases the risk of that person developing the disease. Codes from category Z15 should generally not be used as principal or first-listed codes. If the patient has the condition to which he/she is susceptible, and that condition is the reason for the encounter, the code for the current condition should be sequenced first. If the patient is being seen for follow-up after completed treatment for this condition, and the condition no longer exists, a follow-up code should be sequenced first, followed by the appropriate personal history and genetic susceptibility codes. If the purpose of the encounter is genetic counseling associated with procreative management, code Z31.5, Encounter for genetic counseling, should be assigned as the first-listed code, followed by a code from category Z15. Additional codes should be assigned for any applicable family or personal history. Z16 Resistance to antimicrobial drugs This category indicates that a patient has a condition that is resistant to antimicrobial drug treatment. Sequence the infection code first. Z17 Estrogen, and other hormones and factors receptor status Z18 Retained foreign body fragments Z19 Hormone sensitivity malignancy status Z21 Asymptomatic HIV infection status This code indicates that a patient has tested positive for HIV but has manifested no signs or symptoms of the disease. Z22 Carrier of infectious disease Carrier status indicates that a person harbors the specific organisms of a disease without manifest symptoms and is capable of transmitting the infection. Z28.3 Underimmunization status See Section I.B.14. for underimmunization documentation by clinicians other than the patient’s provider. Z33.1 Pregnant state, incidental This code is a secondary code only for use when the pregnancy is in no way complicating the reason for visit. Otherwise, a code from the obstetric chapter is required. Z66 Do not resuscitate This code may be used when it is documented by the provider that a patient is on do not resuscitate status at any time during the stay. Z67 Blood type Z68 Body mass index (BMI) BMI codes should only be assigned when there is an associated, reportable diagnosis (such as obesity or anorexia) documented by the patient’s provider. Do not assign BMI codes during pregnancy. When the documentation reflects fluctuating BMI values during the current encounter for an associated reportable condition, assign a code for the most severe value. See Section I.B.14. for BMI documentation by clinicians other than the patient’s provider. Z74.01 Bed confinement status Z76.82 Awaiting organ transplant status Z78 Other specified health status Code Z78.1, Physical restraint status, may be used when it is documented by the provider that a patient has been put in restraints during the current encounter. Please note that this code should not be reported when it is documented by the provider that a patient is temporarily restrained during a procedure. Z79 Long-term (current) drug therapy Codes from this category indicate a patient’s continuous use of a prescribed drug (including such things as aspirin therapy) for the long-term treatment of a condition or for prophylactic use. It is not for use for patients who have addictions to drugs. This subcategory is not for use of medications for detoxification or maintenance programs to prevent withdrawal symptoms (e.g., methadone maintenance for opiate dependence). Assign the appropriate code for the drug use, abuse, or dependence instead. Assign a code from Z79 if the patient is receiving a medication for an extended period as a prophylactic measure (such as for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis) or as treatment of a chronic condition (such as arthritis) or a disease requiring a lengthy course of treatment (such as cancer). Do not assign a code from category Z79 for medication being administered for a brief period of time to treat an acute illness or injury (such as a course of antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis). Z88 Allergy status to drugs, medicaments and biological substances Except: Z88.9, Allergy status to unspecified drugs, medicaments and biological substances status Z89 Acquired absence of limb Z90 Acquired absence of organs, not elsewhere classified Z91.0- Allergy status, other than to drugs and biological substances Z92.82 Status post administration of tPA (rtPA) in a different facility within the last 24 hours prior to admission to a current facility Assign code Z92.82, Status post administration of tPA (rtPA) in a different facility within the last 24 hours prior to admission to current facility, as a secondary diagnosis when a patient is received by transfer into a facility and documentation indicates they were administered tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) within the last 24 hours prior to admission to the current facility. This guideline applies even if the patient is still receiving the tPA at the time they are received into the current facility. The appropriate code for the condition for which the tPA was administered (such as cerebrovascular disease or myocardial infarction) should be assigned first. Code Z92.82 is only applicable to the receiving facility record and not to the transferring facility record. Z93 Artificial opening status Z94 Transplanted organ and tissue status Z95 Presence of cardiac and vascular implants and grafts Z96 Presence of other functional implants Z97 Presence of other devices Z98 Other postprocedural states Assign code Z98.85, Transplanted organ removal status, to indicate that a transplanted organ has been previously removed. This code should not be assigned for the encounter in which the transplanted organ is removed. The complication necessitating removal of the transplant organ should be assigned for that encounter. See section I.C.19. for information on the coding of organ transplant complications. Z99 Dependence on enabling machines and devices, not elsewhere classified Note: Categories Z89-Z90 and Z93-Z99 are for use only if there are no complications or malfunctions of the organ or tissue replaced, the amputation site or the equipment on which the patient is dependent.

I.C.10.a.1 Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive bronchitis and asthma chapter guidance p.56

The codes in categories J44 and J45 distinguish between uncomplicated cases and those in acute exacerbation. An acute exacerbation is a worsening or a decompensation of a chronic condition. An acute exacerbation is not equivalent to an infection superimposed on a chronic condition, though an exacerbation may be triggered by an infection.

I.C.10.b.1 Acute respiratory failure as principal diagnosis chapter guidance p.56

A code from subcategory J96.0, Acute respiratory failure, or subcategory J96.2, Acute and chronic respiratory failure, may be assigned as a principal diagnosis when it is the condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for occasioning the admission to the hospital, and the selection is supported by the Alphabetic Index and Tabular List. However, chapter- specific coding guidelines (such as obstetrics, poisoning, HIV, newborn) that provide sequencing direction take precedence.

I.C.10.b.2 Acute respiratory failure as secondary diagnosis chapter guidance p.56

Respiratory failure may be listed as a secondary diagnosis if it occurs after admission, or if it is present on admission, but does not meet the definition of principal diagnosis.

I.C.10.b.3 Sequencing of acute respiratory failure and another acute chapter guidance p.56

condition When a patient is admitted with respiratory failure and another acute condition, (e.g., myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, aspiration pneumonia), the principal diagnosis will not be the same in every situation. This applies whether the other acute condition is a respiratory or nonrespiratory condition. Selection of the principal diagnosis will be dependent on the circumstances of admission. If both the respiratory failure and the other acute condition are equally responsible for occasioning the admission to the hospital, and there are no chapter-specific sequencing rules, the guideline regarding two or more diagnoses that equally meet the definition for principal diagnosis (Section II, C.) may be applied in these situations. If the documentation is not clear as to whether acute respiratory failure and another condition are equally responsible for occasioning the admission, query the provider for clarification.

I.C.10.c Influenza due to certain identified influenza viruses chapter guidance p.57

Code only confirmed cases of influenza due to certain identified influenza viruses (category J09), and due to other identified influenza virus (category J10). This is an exception to the hospital inpatient guideline Section II, H. (Uncertain Diagnosis). In this context, “confirmation” does not require documentation of positive laboratory testing specific for avian or other novel influenza A or other identified influenza virus. However, coding should be based on the provider’s diagnostic statement that the patient has avian influenza, or other novel influenza A, for category J09, or has another particular identified strain of influenza, such as H1N1 or H3N2, but not identified as novel or variant, for category J10. If the provider records “suspected” or “possible” or “probable” avian influenza, or novel influenza, or other identified influenza, then the appropriate influenza code from category J11, Influenza due to unidentified influenza virus, should be assigned. A code from category J09, Influenza due to certain identified influenza viruses, should not be assigned nor should a code from category J10, Influenza due to other identified influenza virus.

I.C.10.d.1 Documentation of Ventilator associated Pneumonia chapter guidance p.57

As with all procedural or postprocedural complications, code assignment is based on the provider’s documentation of the relationship between the condition and the procedure. Code J95.851, Ventilator associated pneumonia, should be assigned only when the provider has documented ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). An additional code to identify the organism (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, code B96.5) should also be assigned. Do not assign an additional code from categories J12-J18 to identify the type of pneumonia. Code J95.851 should not be assigned for cases where the patient has pneumonia and is on a mechanical ventilator and the provider has not specifically stated that the pneumonia is ventilator-associated pneumonia. If the documentation is unclear as to whether the patient has a pneumonia that is a complication attributable to the mechanical ventilator, query the provider.

I.C.10.d.2 Ventilator associated Pneumonia Develops after Admission chapter guidance p.58

A patient may be admitted with one type of pneumonia (e.g., code J13, Pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumonia) and subsequently develop VAP. In this instance, the principal diagnosis would be the appropriate code from categories J12-J18 for the pneumonia diagnosed at the time of admission. Code J95.851, Ventilator associated pneumonia, would be assigned as an additional diagnosis when the provider has also documented the presence of ventilator associated pneumonia.

I.C.10.e Vaping-related disorders chapter guidance p.58

For patients presenting with condition(s) related to vaping, assign code U07.0, Vaping-related disorder, as the principal diagnosis. For lung injury due to vaping, assign only code U07.0. Assign additional codes for other manifestations, such as acute respiratory failure (subcategory J96.0-) or pneumonitis (code J68.0). Associated respiratory signs and symptoms due to vaping, such as cough, shortness of breath, etc., are not coded separately, when a definitive diagnosis has been established. However, it would be appropriate to code separately any gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. See Section I.C.1.g.1.c.i. for Pneumonia confirmed as due to COVID-19

Index entries leading here filed at null

No alphabetic index entry points at this code.

Alongside this code 3 same parent — J96
Subordinate codes 3
Medications 1

MED-RT files conditions by MeSH, which carves the world differently from ICD-10. These are name matches on this code's description, offered as candidates — not as an assertion that they are this code.

Additional references
AHA Coding Clinic® Licence required

Official coding advice for this code. Published by the American Hospital Association. Not included in this installation.

Risk adjustment

Maps to no condition category in any loaded model.

Presence is a property of the code. Untick a model to hide it everywhere.

This code

Billable
no
Code set
FY2026
Parent
J96
Block
J96-J99
Siblings
3
Subordinate
3

Present FY2024–FY2027.