J68.4UpcomingBillable / specific

Chronic respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

Code-level instructions

Code also

, if applicable, chronic conditions, such as:
chronic bronchitis (J42)
emphysema (J43.-)
obliterative bronchiolitis (J44.81)
pulmonary fibrosis (J84.10)

Excludes 1

chronic pulmonary edema due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.1)

Chapters 10 · Inherited instructions

Use additional code

code, where applicable, 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)

J68 · Inherited instructions

Code first

(T51-T65) to identify cause

Use additional code

code to identify associated respiratory conditions, such as:
acute respiratory failure (J96.0-)

Excludes 2 · 11

Chapters 10 · Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)

Excludes 2

certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
neoplasms (C00-D49)
smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

J60-J70 · Lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70)

Excludes 2

asthma (J45.-)
malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung (C34.-)

Claims & coverage

Coverage depends on the payer, service and applicable policy. A billable code does not guarantee payment.

When ICD-10-CM is required

For US diagnosis claims covered by HIPAA, ICD-10-CM is required from October 1, 2015.

Use the service date for outpatient/professional claims and the discharge date for hospital inpatient claims. Earlier encounters use ICD-9-CM; each individual code must also be valid for the applicable date.

Official coding guidelines → · CMS ↗

Check Medicare coverage ↗

First observed · 2015-10-01

Code history

Latest recorded change · FY2027

ChangedUnchanged

FY2027UpcomingSelected edition

Effective from 2026-10-01

Code-level rules changed

Chronic respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

Billable diagnosis code

CDC/NCHS · FY2027

All editions (19)

All editions	Effective from	Code history
FY2016	2015-10-01	First observed
FY2017	2016-10-01	Inherited rules changed
FY2018	2017-10-01	No tabular change
FY2019	2018-10-01	No tabular change
FY2020	2019-10-01	No tabular change
FY2020 · April	2020-04-01	No tabular change
FY2021	2020-10-01	No tabular change
FY2021 · 01-01	2021-01-01	No tabular change
FY2022	2021-10-01	No tabular change
FY2022 · 04-01	2022-04-01	No tabular change
FY2023	2022-10-01	No tabular change
FY2023 · 04-01	2023-04-01	No tabular change
FY2024	2023-10-01	Code-level rules changed
FY2024 · 04-01	2024-04-01	No tabular change
FY2025	2024-10-01	No tabular change
FY2025 · 04-01	2025-04-01	No tabular change
FY2026	2025-10-01	No tabular change
FY2026 · April	2026-04-01	No tabular change
FY2027	2026-10-01	Code-level rules changed

Historical ICD-9 mappings · 2018

Historical mapping only; not an automatic code substitution.

506.4

CDC/NCHS · GEM 2018

Code-level instructions

Excludes 1

chronic pulmonary edema due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.1)

Code also

, if applicable, chronic conditions, such as:
chronic bronchitis (J42)
emphysema (J43.-)
obliterative bronchiolitis (J44.81)
pulmonary fibrosis (J84.10)

Inherited instructions

Chapters 10 · Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)

Excludes 2

certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
neoplasms (C00-D49)
smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Use additional code

code, where applicable, 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)

Note

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).

J68 · Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

Code first

(T51-T65) to identify cause

Use additional code

code to identify associated respiratory conditions, such as:
acute respiratory failure (J96.0-)

J60-J70 · Lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70)

Excludes 2

asthma (J45.-)
malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung (C34.-)

Official index references (8)

Bronchiolitis(acute) (infective) (subacute) (1)

Bronchiolitis(acute) (infective) (subacute) › chemical(chronic)Disease index

Bronchitis(diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous) (5)

Disease, diseased (2)

Related codes

Other entries in the same category; these are not automatic substitutes.

Code	Description	Category · further specificity required
J68.0	Bronchitis and pneumonitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors	Billable / specific
J68.1	Pulmonary edema due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors	Billable / specific
J68.2	Upper respiratory inflammation due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors, not elsewhere classified	Billable / specific
J68.3	Other acute and subacute respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors	Billable / specific
J68.8	Other respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors	Billable / specific
J68.9	Unspecified respiratory condition due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors	Billable / specific

Official titles and instructions are preserved in their source language. Official sources ↗

References from other codes (4)

J42 · Unspecified chronic bronchitis

Code also · , if applicable, chronic respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.4)

J43 · Emphysema

Excludes 2 · emphysema due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes or vapors (J68.4)

J44.81 · Bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome

Code also · chronic respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.4)

J84.1 · Other interstitial pulmonary diseases with fibrosis

Code also · , if applicable, pulmonary fibrosis (chronic) due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes or vapors (J68.4)

J68.4UpcomingBillable / specific

Chronic respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

Code-level instructions

Code also

, if applicable, chronic conditions, such as:
chronic bronchitis (J42)
emphysema (J43.-)
obliterative bronchiolitis (J44.81)
pulmonary fibrosis (J84.10)

Excludes 1

chronic pulmonary edema due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.1)

Chapters 10 · Inherited instructions

Use additional code

code, where applicable, 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)

J68 · Inherited instructions

Code first

(T51-T65) to identify cause

Use additional code

code to identify associated respiratory conditions, such as:
acute respiratory failure (J96.0-)

Excludes 2 · 11

Chapters 10 · Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)

Excludes 2

certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
neoplasms (C00-D49)
smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

J60-J70 · Lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70)

Excludes 2

asthma (J45.-)
malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung (C34.-)

Claims & coverage

Coverage depends on the payer, service and applicable policy. A billable code does not guarantee payment.

When ICD-10-CM is required

For US diagnosis claims covered by HIPAA, ICD-10-CM is required from October 1, 2015.

Official coding guidelines → · CMS ↗

Check Medicare coverage ↗

First observed · 2015-10-01

Code history

Latest recorded change · FY2027

ChangedUnchanged

FY2027UpcomingSelected edition

Effective from 2026-10-01

Code-level rules changed

Chronic respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

Billable diagnosis code

CDC/NCHS · FY2027

All editions (19)

All editions	Effective from	Code history
FY2016	2015-10-01	First observed
FY2017	2016-10-01	Inherited rules changed
FY2018	2017-10-01	No tabular change
FY2019	2018-10-01	No tabular change
FY2020	2019-10-01	No tabular change
FY2020 · April	2020-04-01	No tabular change
FY2021	2020-10-01	No tabular change
FY2021 · 01-01	2021-01-01	No tabular change
FY2022	2021-10-01	No tabular change
FY2022 · 04-01	2022-04-01	No tabular change
FY2023	2022-10-01	No tabular change
FY2023 · 04-01	2023-04-01	No tabular change
FY2024	2023-10-01	Code-level rules changed
FY2024 · 04-01	2024-04-01	No tabular change
FY2025	2024-10-01	No tabular change
FY2025 · 04-01	2025-04-01	No tabular change
FY2026	2025-10-01	No tabular change
FY2026 · April	2026-04-01	No tabular change
FY2027	2026-10-01	Code-level rules changed

Historical ICD-9 mappings · 2018

Historical mapping only; not an automatic code substitution.

506.4

CDC/NCHS · GEM 2018

Code-level instructions

Excludes 1

chronic pulmonary edema due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.1)

Code also

, if applicable, chronic conditions, such as:
chronic bronchitis (J42)
emphysema (J43.-)
obliterative bronchiolitis (J44.81)
pulmonary fibrosis (J84.10)

Inherited instructions

Chapters 10 · Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)

Excludes 2

certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
neoplasms (C00-D49)
smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Use additional code

code, where applicable, 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)

Note

J68 · Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors

Code first

(T51-T65) to identify cause

Use additional code

code to identify associated respiratory conditions, such as:
acute respiratory failure (J96.0-)

J60-J70 · Lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70)

Excludes 2

asthma (J45.-)
malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung (C34.-)

Official index references (8)

Bronchiolitis(acute) (infective) (subacute) (1)

Bronchiolitis(acute) (infective) (subacute) › chemical(chronic)Disease index

Bronchitis(diffuse) (fibrinous) (hypostatic) (infective) (membranous) (5)

Disease, diseased (2)

Related codes

Other entries in the same category; these are not automatic substitutes.

Code	Description	Category · further specificity required
J68.0	Bronchitis and pneumonitis due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors	Billable / specific
J68.1	Pulmonary edema due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors	Billable / specific
J68.2	Upper respiratory inflammation due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors, not elsewhere classified	Billable / specific
J68.3	Other acute and subacute respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors	Billable / specific
J68.8	Other respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors	Billable / specific
J68.9	Unspecified respiratory condition due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors	Billable / specific

Official titles and instructions are preserved in their source language. Official sources ↗

References from other codes (4)

J42 · Unspecified chronic bronchitis

Code also · , if applicable, chronic respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.4)

J43 · Emphysema

Excludes 2 · emphysema due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes or vapors (J68.4)

J44.81 · Bronchiolitis obliterans and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome

Code also · chronic respiratory conditions due to chemicals, gases, fumes and vapors (J68.4)

J84.1 · Other interstitial pulmonary diseases with fibrosis

Code also · , if applicable, pulmonary fibrosis (chronic) due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes or vapors (J68.4)