ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for bronchial croup
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Croup, croupous (catarrhal) (infectious) (inflammatory) (nondiphtheritic) › bronchial”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding bronchial croup
The ICD-10-CM code for bronchial croup is J20.9 (Acute bronchitis, unspecified).
Within J20, choose J20.9 (unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae (J20.0), due to Hemophilus influenzae (J20.1), due to streptococcus (J20.2), due to coxsackievirus (J20.3), due to parainfluenza virus (J20.4), due to respiratory syncytial virus (J20.5), due to rhinovirus (J20.6), due to echovirus (J20.7) and 1 more.
It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 202 (Bronchitis and Asthma with CC/MCC, relative weight 0.9474) and DRG 203 (Bronchitis and Asthma without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.6512), in MDC 04 (Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.
Common questions about bronchial croup ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for bronchial croup?
- J20.9 — Acute bronchitis, unspecified.
Is J20.9 billable?
- Yes. J20.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can J20.9 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict J20.9 as a principal diagnosis.
Is J20.9 a CC or MCC?
- No. J20.9 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.