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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

J96.9Respiratory failure, unspecified

Not billable — use a more specific code

J96.9 is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself. Choose one of the 3 more specific codes beneath it.

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About J96.9

J96.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for respiratory failure, unspecified. It belongs to category J96 (respiratory failure, not elsewhere classified), block J96-J99 (other diseases of the respiratory system) and chapter 10 (diseases of the respiratory system). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 3 subcodes must be used instead.

Within J96, choose J96.9 (Respiratory failure, unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: acute respiratory failure (J96.0), chronic respiratory failure (J96.1) and acute and chronic respiratory failure (J96.2).

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: J96.90 (unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia), J96.91 (with hypoxia) and J96.92 (with hypercapnia).

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Specific codes under J96.9

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to J96.9.

› From J96 Respiratory failure, not elsewhere classified
Excludes1
  • acute respiratory distress syndrome (J80)
  • cardiorespiratory failure (R09.2)
  • newborn respiratory distress syndrome (P22.0)
  • postprocedural respiratory failure (J95.82-)
  • respiratory arrest (R09.2)
  • respiratory arrest of newborn (P28.81)
  • respiratory failure of newborn (P28.5)

Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system.

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about J96.9

Is J96.9 billable?

No. J96.9 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.