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ICD-10-CM J44.1: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation

J44.1 is the billable ICD-10-CM code for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation, in category J44 (Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) of the Chronic lower respiratory diseases section. As a principal diagnosis it groups to MS-DRG 190 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with MCC, MS-DRG 191 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with CC, MS-DRG 192 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease without CC/MCC (MDC 04 MDC 04: Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System). It maps to HCC 280 (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Interstitial Lung Disorders, and Other Chronic Lung Disorders) in CMS-HCC V28. As a secondary diagnosis it is a CC, excluded with 6 principal diagnoses. 24 LCD billing and coding articles list it as covered.

Compiled from CMS files by the QuickIntell RCM Editorial Team · Data effective · Method: reference methodology · Report a data correction

Data currency: ICD-10-CM code descriptions: FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026); IPPS Table 5 (MS-DRG weights): v44 FY2027 (final rule + CN3) (effective October 1, 2026); ICD-10-CM to HCC mapping: PY2027 initial ICD-10-CM mappings (dates of service 2026) (payment year 2027); Medicare Coverage Database billing and coding articles: MCD release October 8, 2026 (effective October 4, 2026). Next CMS release: FY2028 code files, effective October 1, 2027 for the ICD-10-CM code descriptions; FY2028 final rule (August 2027), effective October 1, 2027; an April 1 interim grouper update when CMS issues one for the IPPS Table 5 (MS-DRG weights); PY2028 advance notice (February 2027) and the PY2027 midyear final mapping (spring 2027) for the ICD-10-CM to HCC mapping; weekly, every Thursday for the Medicare Coverage Database billing and coding articles.

Code
J44.1
billable FY2027 ICD-10-CM code
Category
J44 Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chapter
10: Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
CC/MCC (MS-DRG v44)
CC
CMS-HCC V28
HCC 280
POA reporting
Required

Tabular list notes for J44.1

Inclusion terms
  • Decompensated COPD
  • Decompensated COPD with (acute) exacerbation
Excludes2 (not part of this condition, may be coded together)
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] with acute bronchitis (J44.0)
  • lung diseases due to external agents (J60-J70)

Inherited from J44 (Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Includes
  • asthma with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • chronic asthmatic (obstructive) bronchitis
  • chronic bronchitis with airway obstruction
  • chronic bronchitis with emphysema
  • chronic emphysematous bronchitis
  • chronic obstructive asthma
  • chronic obstructive bronchitis
  • chronic obstructive tracheobronchitis
Excludes2 (not part of this condition, may be coded together)
  • bronchiectasis (J47.-)
  • chronic bronchitis NOS (J42)
  • chronic simple and mucopurulent bronchitis (J41.-)
  • chronic tracheitis (J42)
  • chronic tracheobronchitis (J42)
  • emphysema without chronic bronchitis (J43.-)
Code also
  • type of asthma, if applicable (J45.-)

MS-DRG grouping when J44.1 is the principal diagnosis

MS-DRG v44 groups for J44.1 as principal diagnosis
MDCMS-DRGs
04 MDC 04: Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System190191192

The final group also depends on procedures, secondary diagnoses and discharge status; the MS-DRG lookup for J44.1 shows the full grouping logic.

CC/MCC status and inpatient edits

As a secondary diagnosis, J44.1 is a CC under MS-DRG v44, unless the principal diagnosis is one of the 6 codes in its exclusion list. Check J44.1 against a principal diagnosis.

  • Present on admission: a POA indicator is required on inpatient claims.

CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment

In the PY2027 mapping, J44.1 maps to HCC 280 (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Interstitial Lung Disorders, and Other Chronic Lung Disorders). The HCC lookup shows the RAF weight and the hierarchy.

LCD billing and coding articles that list J44.1

24 current Medicare billing and coding articles list J44.1 among the diagnoses that support medical necessity for the services they cover.

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Frequently asked questions

What does ICD-10-CM J44.1 mean?

J44.1 means chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with (acute) exacerbation. The tabular list also files these terms under it: Decompensated COPD; Decompensated COPD with (acute) exacerbation. It is one of 5 billable codes under J44, other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Which MS-DRG does J44.1 group to?

As the principal diagnosis, J44.1 groups to MS-DRG 190 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with MCC, MS-DRG 191 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with CC, MS-DRG 192 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease without CC/MCC (MDC 04 MDC 04: Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System) under MS-DRG v44, before procedures and secondary diagnoses are applied.

Does J44.1 map to an HCC?

Yes: HCC 280, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Interstitial Lung Disorders, and Other Chronic Lung Disorders, in the PY2027 CMS-HCC V28 mapping.

Is J44.1 a CC or MCC?

J44.1 is a CC under MS-DRG v44; 6 principal diagnoses exclude it.

Sources

Every figure on this page is taken from the CMS publications below, as released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Projection built 2026-10-10. Verify against the primary file before billing or contracting decisions. The reference methodology explains how each figure is computed from these files.

Disclaimer

The descriptor and notes are reproduced from the FY2027 ICD-10-CM files; MS-DRG, CC/MCC and HCC facts come from the CMS FY2027 and PY2027 tables. Code from the medical record and the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines. Not legal, clinical or billing advice.

Found a figure that does not match the CMS file? Report a data correction with the CMS file and the value you expected; the request reaches the editorial team through the contact form.