Is J86 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No. J86 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.

Where does J86 sit in the tabular list?

Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99), in the block Suppurative and necrotic conditions of the lower respiratory tract (J85-J86).

What cannot be coded together with J86?

J86 carries Excludes1 notes, which means the conditions they list can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.

J86

J86 — Pyothorax

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

J86 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for pyothorax. 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.

abscess of lung (J85.-)
pyothorax due to tuberculosis (A15.6)

Use additional code

Add a secondary code to capture the detail described below.

code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.

Other codes that can never be billed with J86

These codes carry an Excludes1 note pointing at J86. The conflict binds both ways, but ICD-10-CM only writes it down on one side — so you would not find this by reading J86 alone.

J93Pneumothorax and air leak

Risk adjustment

J86 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 history

J86 has not changed since FY2024 — no addition, revision or deletion across the three most recent ICD-10-CM releases.

Code to one of these instead J86

2 child codes. Green means billable.

Questions about J86

Is J86 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: No. J86 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
Where does J86 sit in the tabular list?: Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99), in the block Suppurative and necrotic conditions of the lower respiratory tract (J85-J86).
What cannot be coded together with J86?: J86 carries Excludes1 notes, which means the conditions they list can never be coded together with it on the same encounter.