I27.81: Cor pulmonale (chronic)
I27.81, cor pulmonale (chronic), is listed as a covered diagnosis in 7 Medicare billing and coding articles that apply to 38 HCPCS Level II codes, including J0153 (Injection, adenosine, 1 mg (not to be used to report any…), J1250 (Injection, dobutamine hydrochloride, per 250 mg), J1245 (Injection, dipyridamole, per 10 mg). The articles come from 4 Medicare contractors. A listed diagnosis supports medical necessity only; coverage still depends on the LCD's criteria and on documentation in the medical record.
HCPCS Level II codes with I27.81 as a covered diagnosis
| Code | Description | Medicare coverage | DMEPOS fee 2026 (state range) | Articles listing it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J0153 | Injection, adenosine, 1 mg (not to be used to report any adenosine phosphate compounds) | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 3 |
| J1250 | Injection, dobutamine hydrochloride, per 250 mg | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 3 |
| J1245 | Injection, dipyridamole, per 10 mg | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 3 |
| G0278 | Iliac and/or femoral artery angiography, non-selective, bilateral or ipsilateral to catheter insertion, performed at the same time as cardiac catheterization and/or coronary angiography, includes positioning or placement of the catheter in the distal aorta or ipsilateral femoral or iliac artery, injection of dye, production of permanent images, and radiologic supervision and interpretation (list separately in addition to primary procedure) | Carrier judgment | — | 2 |
| G0269 | Placement of occlusive device into either a venous or arterial access site, post surgical or interventional procedure (e.g., angioseal plug, vascular plug) | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 2 |
| J0461 | Injection, atropine sulfate, 0.01 mg | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 2 |
| J0280 | Injection, aminophyllin, up to 250 mg | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 2 |
| J3490 | Unclassified drugs | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 1 |
| A9500 | Technetium tc-99m sestamibi, diagnostic, per study dose | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| A9502 | Technetium tc-99m tetrofosmin, diagnostic, per study dose | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| A9555 | Rubidium rb-82, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 60 millicuries | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| A9505 | Thallium tl-201 thallous chloride, diagnostic, per millicurie | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| A9526 | Nitrogen n-13 ammonia, diagnostic, per study dose, up to 40 millicuries | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| A4641 | Radiopharmaceutical, diagnostic, not otherwise classified | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| A9501 | Technetium tc-99m teboroxime, diagnostic, per study dose | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| A9611 | Flurpiridaz f 18, diagnostic, 1 millicurie | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G0238 | Therapeutic procedures to improve respiratory function, other than described by g0237, one on one, face to face, per 15 minutes (includes monitoring) | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G0237 | Therapeutic procedures to increase strength or endurance of respiratory muscles, face to face, one on one, each 15 minutes (includes monitoring) | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G0239 | Therapeutic procedures to improve respiratory function or increase strength or endurance of respiratory muscles, two or more individuals (includes monitoring) | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| C8900 | Magnetic resonance angiography with contrast, abdomen | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 1 |
| C8901 | Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast, abdomen | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 1 |
| C8902 | Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast followed by with contrast, abdomen | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 1 |
| C8909 | Magnetic resonance angiography with contrast, chest (excluding myocardium) | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 1 |
| C8910 | Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast, chest (excluding myocardium) | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 1 |
| C8911 | Magnetic resonance angiography without contrast followed by with contrast, chest (excluding myocardium) | Special coverage instructions apply | — | 1 |
13 more codes are listed. See every code with payment by region in Caduvo.
Medicare policy articles listing I27.81
- A57183: Billing and Coding: Cardiovascular Stress Testing, Including Exercise and/or Pharmacological Stress and Stress Echocardiography (Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 4 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34324
- A56500: Billing and Coding: Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography (CGS Administrators, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 2 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L33557, L33959
- A56476: Billing and Coding: Cardiac Radionuclide Imaging (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 13 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L33457
- A52850: Billing and Coding: Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography (Wellpoint Federal (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 2 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L33557, L33959
- A57224: Billing and Coding: Respiratory Care (Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 3 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34149
- A56775: Billing and Coding: Magnetic Resonance Angiography (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 18 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34424
- A56625: Billing and Coding: Echocardiography (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 6 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L37379
A diagnosis listed as covered in a billing and coding article supports medical necessity for the article's codes; it does not guarantee payment. Coverage depends on the LCD's criteria, the contractor's jurisdiction and documentation in the medical record.
Other I27 diagnoses (Other pulmonary heart diseases)
- I27.82 — Chronic pulmonary embolism
- I27.83 — Eisenmenger's syndrome
- I27.840 — Fontan-associated liver disease [FALD]
- I27.841 — Fontan-associated lymphatic dysfunction
- I27.848 — Other Fontan-associated condition
- I27.849 — Fontan related circulation, unspecified
- I27.89 — Other specified pulmonary heart diseases
- I27.0 — Primary pulmonary hypertension
- I27.1 — Kyphoscoliotic heart disease
- I27.20 — Pulmonary hypertension, unspecified
- I27.21 — Secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension
- I27.22 — Pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease
- I27.23 — Pulmonary hypertension due to lung diseases and hypoxia
- I27.24 — Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
- I27.29 — Other secondary pulmonary hypertension
- I27.9 — Pulmonary heart disease, unspecified
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover I27.81 (Cor pulmonale (chronic))?
Medicare covers items and services, not diagnoses. 7 Medicare billing and coding articles list I27.81 as a covered diagnosis for 38 HCPCS Level II codes: the diagnosis can support medical necessity for those codes, but payment still depends on the LCD's coverage criteria and the medical record.
Which HCPCS codes can be billed with ICD-10 I27.81?
The Level II codes from the policies most specific to this diagnosis are J0153 (Injection, adenosine, 1 mg (not to be used to report any…, 3 articles); J1250 (Injection, dobutamine hydrochloride, per 250 mg, 3 articles); J1245 (Injection, dipyridamole, per 10 mg, 3 articles); G0278 (Iliac and/or femoral artery angiography, non-selective…, 2 articles); G0269 (Placement of occlusive device into either a venous or…, 2 articles). Code choice depends on the item supplied; check each code's descriptor.
Which Medicare policy articles list I27.81?
A57183 (Billing and Coding: Cardiovascular Stress Testing, Including Exercise and/or Pharmacological Stress and Stress Echocardiography); A56500 (Billing and Coding: Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography); A56476 (Billing and Coding: Cardiac Radionuclide Imaging), and 4 more articles.
What is ICD-10-CM code I27.81?
I27.81 is the ICD-10-CM code for cor pulmonale (chronic), in category I27 (Other pulmonary heart diseases), chapter 9: Diseases of the circulatory system.
Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under J0153
- Watch J0153 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for J0153
Sources: CMS Medicare Coverage Database billing and coding articles (covered ICD-10 code lists and HCPCS links); ICD-10-CM FY2026; CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule 2026 (non-rural state fees). Not billing or legal advice.
Chapter 9: Diseases of the circulatory system · All diagnoses · HCPCS lookup