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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

J96.90Respiratory failure, unspecified, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia

✓ Billable / specificMCC — major complication/comorbidity

J96.90 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for respiratory failure, unspecified, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.Short description: Respiratory failure, unsp, unsp w hypoxia or hypercapnia

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 J96.90

J96.90 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for respiratory failure, unspecified, unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia. 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 billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within J96.9, choose J96.90 (unspecified whether with hypoxia or hypercapnia) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: with hypoxia (J96.91) and with hypercapnia (J96.92).

As a secondary diagnosis it is an MCC (major complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the highest-paying "with MCC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 189 (Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure, relative weight 1.2108), DRG 928 (Full Thickness Burn with Skin Graft or Inhalation Injury with CC/MCC, relative weight 7.6477), DRG 929 (Full Thickness Burn with Skin Graft or Inhalation Injury without CC/MCC, relative weight 3.0193) and DRG 934 (Full Thickness Burn without Skin Graft or Inhalation Injury, relative weight 1.9895), in MDC 04 (Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System) and MDC 22 (Burns), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

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

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 518.81 (acute respiratory failure).

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to J96.90.

› 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.

Alphabetic index entries

1 entries

Terms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to J96.90.

MS-DRG v44.0 grouping

All DRGs →

Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.

MDC 04 · Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System

ICD-9-CM equivalent

Converter →
  • 518.81Acute respiratory failureapproximate

From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.

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 J96.90

Is J96.90 billable?

Yes. J96.90 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can J96.90 be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict J96.90 as a principal diagnosis.

Is J96.90 a CC or MCC?

J96.90 is an MCC (major complication or comorbidity) under MS-DRG v44.0, unless excluded by the principal diagnosis.

What DRG does J96.90 group to?

J96.90 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 189 (Pulmonary Edema and Respiratory Failure), MS-DRG 928 (Full Thickness Burn with Skin Graft or Inhalation Injury with CC/MCC), MS-DRG 929 (Full Thickness Burn with Skin Graft or Inhalation Injury without CC/MCC) and MS-DRG 934 (Full Thickness Burn without Skin Graft or Inhalation Injury). Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.

What is the ICD-9 code for J96.90?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map J96.90 to ICD-9-CM 518.81.