J95.04

Tracheo-esophageal fistula following tracheostomy

FY2027Chapter 10: Diseases of the respiratory system/J95 Intraoperative and postprocedural complications and disorders of respiratory system, not elsewhere classified

BillableComplete code, valid to report

J95.04 (also written J9504) is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for tracheo-esophageal fistula following tracheostomy. It is part of the FY2027 code set, effective October 1, 2026. It is one of the 32 codes in category J95 (Intraoperative and postprocedural complications and disorders of respiratory system, not elsewhere classified). The Alphabetic Index lists it under 2 entries. Its coding notes include a Use additional code instruction and 13 Excludes2 entries.

Guidelines tip

From the FY2027 Official Guidelines. ICD10Ref adds no rules of its own.

Intraoperative and postprocedural complications are coded from the body system chapters unless the complication is specifically indexed to a T code.

Guidelines I.C.19.g.5Postprocedural complications in the body system chaptersRead the official text

Use additional code

Add the listed code as a secondary code, if known.

Also from chapter/block level (7 notes)
Inherited from Chapter 10 Diseases of the respiratory system
  • code, where applicable, to identify:
    • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
    • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
    • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
    • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
    • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
    • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Excludes2

Not included here. Both codes may be reported if the patient has both conditions.

Inherited from J95 Intraoperative and postprocedural complications and disorders of respiratory system, not elsewhere classified
  • aspiration pneumonia (J69.-)
  • emphysema (subcutaneous) resulting from a procedure (T81.82)
  • hypostatic pneumonia (J18.2)
  • pulmonary manifestations due to radiation (J70.0-J70.1)
Also from chapter/block level (9 notes)
Inherited from Chapter 10 Diseases of the respiratory system
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Care settings

How CMS programs treat this code. These are CMS claim edits and list entries, not coverage or eligibility rules.

Home Health Primary

Accepted as the primary (principal) diagnosis on a home health claim. The Home Health Grouper assigns it to the Complex Nursing Interventions clinical group.

Source: CMS Home Health Grouper Software v07.2.26, effective October 1, 2026

Hospital CC

Counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) when reported as a secondary diagnosis on an inpatient claim. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 12 codes in its exclusion list. Some MS-DRGs also ignore a CC or MCC that defines the DRG.

Source: CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v44, effective October 1, 2026, Appendix C

IPF Comorbidity

On the CMS IPF comorbidity list.

Comorbidity categoryFactor
Tracheostomy1.09
It counts as a comorbidity when reported as a secondary diagnosis and actively treated during the stay. An IPF receives only one adjustment within a category and can receive adjustments in more than one category.

Source: CMS IPF PPS FY 2027 final rule (CMS-1847-F), Addendum B-3 (comorbidity codes with adjustment factor); effective for discharges on or after October 1, 2026

Notes

Also from chapter/block level (1 note)
Inherited from Chapter 10 Diseases of the respiratory system
  • When a respiratory condition is described as occurring in more than one site and is not specifically indexed, it should be classified to the lower anatomic site (e.g. tracheobronchitis to bronchitis in J40).

Alphabetic Index terms

Terms the official Alphabetic Index lists for this code. 2 entries