J21
Header — not billableAcute bronchiolitis
The ICD-10 code for acute bronchiolitis is J21.
J21 is a non-billable header code. It groups related conditions but cannot be used on its own for reimbursement — select one of the 4 more specific codes below.
Clinical notes
Excludes2 (not included here)
An Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is not part of this one, but a patient can have both at the same time — in that case both codes may be reported together.
- respiratory bronchiolitis interstitial lung disease (J84.115)
Includes
Terms listed here further define or give examples of the conditions grouped under this code — they describe what the code covers, not a separate diagnosis.
- acute bronchiolitis with bronchospasm
Documentation support
General coding-documentation guidance — not a substitute for payer-specific requirements or professional coding judgment.
- •This is a non-billable header code. Documentation must support a more specific child code before this diagnosis can be reported on a claim.
- •As a general rule, code to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation in the medical record.
Related codes in this category
- J20Acute bronchitisnon-billable header
- J22Unspecified acute lower respiratory infection
- J21Acute bronchiolitisnon-billable header