J96.9
Non-billableRespiratory failure, unspecified
Respiratory failure, unspecified
This is a header/category code. For billing purposes, use a more specific child code from the list below.
Coding Notes
Excludes 1
Codes that cannot be used together with this code (mutual exclusion)
Excludes 2
Conditions not included here, but the patient may have both
- •certain conditions originating in the perinatal periodP04-P96
- •certain infectious and parasitic diseasesA00-B99
- •complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperiumO9A)O00
- •congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalitiesQ00-Q99
- •endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseasesE00-E88
- •injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causesS00-T88
- •neoplasmsC00-D49
- •smoke inhalationT59.81
- •symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classifiedR00-R94
Use Additional Code
Additional codes that should follow this code
Child Codes (3)
Related Codes(3)
ICD-11 Equivalents(1)
ICD-11 Equivalents
View full mappingCorresponding ICD-11 codes from the WHO crosswalk mapping
Also Known As / Clinical Terms(11)
UMLS
- Failure respiratoryC1145670
- Failure, RespiratoryC1145670
- Respiration failureC1145670
- Respiratory FailureC1145670
- Respiratory FailuresC1145670
- Respiratory failureC1145670
- Respiratory failure (disorder)C1145670
- Respiratory failure, unspecifiedC1145670
- respiratory failureC1145670
- respiratory insufficiencyC1145670
- respiratory insufficiency/failureC1145670
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for respiratory failure, unspecified?
The ICD-10-CM code for respiratory failure, unspecified is J96.9. The full clinical description is "Respiratory failure, unspecified". J96.9 is a non-billable header code. Use a more specific child code for billing purposes.
What does ICD-10 code J96.9 mean?
ICD-10-CM code J96.9 represents “Respiratory failure, unspecified”. It is classified under Chapter 10: Diseases of the Respiratory System and is a non-billable header code. Use a more specific child code for billing purposes.
Is J96.9 a billable code?
No, J96.9 is a non-billable header code. You need to use one of its more specific child codes for billing. There are 3 child codes under J96.9.
What chapter is J96.9 in?
J96.9 is in Chapter 10: Diseases of the Respiratory System (codes J00-J99).
What codes cannot be used with J96.9?
J96.9 has Excludes1 notes indicating codes that cannot be used together with it, including: acute respiratory distress syndrome (J80); cardiorespiratory failure (R09.2); newborn respiratory distress syndrome (P22.0); and 4 more.
What are the subcategories under J96.9?
J96.9 has 3 child codes, including: J96.90 (Respiratory failure, unsp, unsp w hypoxia or hypercapnia), J96.91 (Respiratory failure, unspecified with hypoxia), J96.92 (Respiratory failure, unspecified with hypercapnia).
Are additional codes required with J96.9?
Yes, when using J96.9, also report: 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).
What are the UMLS CUIs for J96.9?
J96.9 is linked to 1 UMLS Concept Unique Identifier: C1145670. The UMLS (Unified Medical Language System) integrates multiple biomedical vocabularies maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
How does J96.9 relate to ICF functioning codes?
ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) codes describe how conditions like respiratory failure, unspecified affect a person's functioning — body functions, activities, participation, and environmental factors. AutoICD provides ICF Core Sets for 12+ conditions and can map clinical text to ICF categories automatically. Browse the ICF directory to explore functioning codes.
What is the ICD-11 equivalent of J96.9?
J96.9 maps to the ICD-11 code: CB41.2Z (Respiratory failure, unspecified).
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Includes SNOMED Clinical Terms® (SNOMED CT®) used by permission of SNOMED International. Includes content from the UMLS Metathesaurus, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.