Acute sinusitis is a common condition characterized by inflammation of the sinuses, often caused by viral or bacterial infections. In medical coding and billing, accurately identifying and documenting this condition is crucial. The Diagnosis Code For Acute Sinusitis under the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) system is J01.90. This code specifically refers to acute sinusitis, unspecified.
Understanding the ICD-10-CM code J01.90 for acute sinusitis is essential for accurate medical billing and healthcare data management in the United States.
ICD-10-CM code J01.90 is a billable and specific code, meaning it is valid for use in medical claims to request reimbursement. The code has been effective since October 1, 2015, with the current version being valid for the fiscal year 2025, effective from October 1, 2024. It’s important to note that J01.90 is the American version of the code. International versions of ICD-10 J01.90 might have variations.
Within the ICD-10-CM system, J01.90 falls under the broader category of J01.9, which is designated for “Acute sinusitis, unspecified”. The “.90” sub-classification further specifies it as “unspecified,” meaning it doesn’t detail the specific sinus cavity affected (like maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, or sphenoid). For more detailed classifications, other codes within the J01 category, such as J01.0 (Acute maxillary sinusitis) or J01.2 (Acute ethmoidal sinusitis), would be used.
Approximate synonyms for J01.90 include simply “Acute sinusitis.” This code is also relevant to Diagnostic Related Groups (MS-DRG v42.0), which are used to classify hospital cases and determine payment.
The code history of J01.90 is straightforward: it was introduced in 2016 with the implementation of ICD-10-CM and has remained unchanged through the 2025 edition. This stability is important for consistent medical coding practices.
It’s also useful to understand the codes adjacent to J01.90 in the ICD-10-CM manual. These include codes for acute sinusitis of specific sinuses like the sphenoidal (J01.3), pansinusitis (J01.4), and other specified locations (J01.8), as well as the more general category of acute sinusitis, unspecified (J01.9) and acute recurrent sinusitis, unspecified (J01.91). Understanding this context helps ensure the most accurate code is selected based on the clinical documentation.
For healthcare providers and medical coders, using the correct diagnosis code like J01.90 is essential for accurate billing, reimbursement, and for tracking and analyzing health data related to acute sinusitis.
