Specific code 2015 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Code 491.9
Unspecified chronic bronchitis
  • 2015
  • Billable Thru Sept 30/2015
  • Non-Billable On/After Oct 1/2015

  • ICD-9-CM 491.9 is a billable medical code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis on a reimbursement claim, however, 491.9 should only be used for claims with a date of service on or before September 30, 2015. For claims with a date of service on or after October 1, 2015, use an equivalent ICD-10-CM code (or codes).
Convert to ICD-10-CM: 491.9 converts directly to:
  • 2015/16 ICD-10-CM J42 Unspecified chronic bronchitis
Approximate Synonyms
  • Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • Chronic bronchitis with acute exacerbation
Clinical Information
  • A subcategory of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The disease is characterized by hypersecretion of mucus accompanied by a chronic (more than 3 months in 2 consecutive years) productive cough. Infectious agents are a major cause of chronic bronchitis
  • Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the airways that carry air to your lungs. It causes a cough that often brings up mucus, as well as shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and chronic. Chronic bronchitis is one type of copd (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The inflamed bronchi produce a lot of mucus. This leads to cough and difficulty getting air in and out of the lungs. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause. Breathing in other fumes and dusts over a long period of time may also cause chronic bronchitis. Treatment will help your symptoms, but chronic bronchitis is a long-term condition that keeps coming back or never goes away completely
  • Condition characterized by persistent coughing, increased secretion from the bronchial mucosa, obstruction of the respiratory passages, scanty or profuse expectoration, and necrosis and fibrosis of the respiratory tract
ICD-9-CM Volume 2 Index entries containing back-references to 491.9:
  • Bronchitis (diffuse) (hypostatic) (infectious) (inflammatory) (simple) 490
    • senile 491.9
  • Peribronchitis 491.9
    • tuberculous (see also Tuberculosis) 011.3
  • Perichondritis
    • bronchus 491.9
ICD-9-CM codes are used in medical billing and coding to describe diseases, injuries, symptoms and conditions. ICD-9-CM 491.9 is one of thousands of ICD-9-CM codes used in healthcare. Although ICD-9-CM and CPT codes are largely numeric, they differ in that CPT codes describe medical procedures and services. Can't find a code? Start at the root of ICD-9-CM, check the 2015 ICD-9-CM Index or use the search engine at the top of this page to lookup any code.