Is J04 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No. J04 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.

Where does J04 sit in the tabular list?

Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99), in the block Acute upper respiratory infections (J00-J06).

What cannot be coded together with J04?

J04 carries an Excludes1 note, which means the conditions it lists can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.

J04

J04 — Acute laryngitis and tracheitis

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

J04 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for acute laryngitis and tracheitis. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below.

Excludes1 — never code together

These conditions cannot occur together. Billing both on the same encounter is a denial.

acute obstructive laryngitis [croup] and epiglottitis (J05.-)

Excludes2 — not included here, but may coexist

The excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient can have both. You may code both.

laryngismus (stridulus) (J38.5)

Use additional code

Add a secondary code to capture the detail described below.

code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.

Code also

Both codes may be needed to describe the encounter fully. Sequencing depends on the reason for the visit.

influenza, if present, such as:
influenza due to identified novel influenza A virus with other respiratory manifestations (J09.X2)
influenza due to other identified influenza virus with other respiratory manifestations (J10.1)
influenza due to unidentified influenza virus with other respiratory manifestations (J11.1)

Other codes that can never be billed with J04

These codes carry an Excludes1 note pointing at J04. The conflict binds both ways, but ICD-10-CM only writes it down on one side — so you would not find this by reading J04 alone.

J38Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified
J38.4Edema of larynx

Risk adjustment

J04 does not map to an HCC and does not risk-adjust under CMS-HCC V28. That is normal — most ICD-10 codes do not. It still needs to be coded correctly; it just will not move a RAF score.

Code to one of these instead J04

4 child codes. Green means billable.

Questions about J04

Is J04 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: No. J04 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
Where does J04 sit in the tabular list?: Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99), in the block Acute upper respiratory infections (J00-J06).
What cannot be coded together with J04?: J04 carries an Excludes1 note, which means the conditions it lists can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.