2025 ICD-10-CM code Z20.8
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Factors influencing health status and contact with health services - Persons with potential health hazards related to communicable diseases Chapter 21: Factors Influencing Health Status and Contact with Health Services Feed
Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other communicable diseases.
The medical necessity for coding Z20.8 is established when a patient presents to a healthcare facility due to concern about potential exposure to a communicable disease. This exposure creates a clinically significant risk of infection, requiring evaluation, testing, or preventive measures. Medical necessity is supported by documentation detailing the exposure and clinical rationale for the encounter.
The clinical responsibility involves assessing the patient's risk of infection based on their exposure, providing appropriate testing and counseling, implementing preventative measures (e.g., prophylactic medication), and monitoring for the development of symptoms.
- Chapter 21: Factors Influencing Health Status and Contact with Health Services
- Z20-Z29 (Persons with potential health hazards related to communicable diseases)
In simple words: This code means the patient had contact with someone who might have a contagious disease, or was in a place where a contagious disease was spreading, and is being seen for this reason.
This ICD-10-CM code signifies contact with or suspected exposure to communicable diseases other than those specifically listed in other Z20 codes.It's used when a patient has had close contact with an infected individual or has been in an area experiencing an outbreak, raising concerns about potential exposure.The code indicates a reason for the encounter and may be used in conjunction with other codes describing the specific disease or the reason for the visit.
Example 1: A patient presents to the clinic after having close contact with a family member diagnosed with influenza.The patient is asymptomatic but wants to be tested and receive preventative medication. Z20.8 would be used to describe the reason for the encounter., A patient who recently travelled to a region with a measles outbreak seeks medical advice about their potential exposure.The patient is asymptomatic, but concerned about contracting measles. Z20.8 would be used to document the reason for the encounter. Further testing and vaccination might be performed, requiring additional procedure codes., A healthcare worker reports possible exposure to tuberculosis after prolonged contact with a patient diagnosed with the disease.Z20.8 would be used along with other codes to capture this event.Further testing and preventative measures are then determined based on the exposure risk.
Documentation should include details of the exposure, including the date and nature of contact with the potentially infected individual or the location of the outbreak.If any tests were performed to assess the risk of infection, the results should be documented. Any preventative or therapeutic interventions should also be clearly recorded.
** This code is often used in conjunction with other codes, such as codes for laboratory tests or preventive medications.Always refer to the current ICD-10-CM guidelines for the most up-to-date coding practices.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Infectious Disease, Public Health, Family Medicine, Occupational Medicine
- Place of Service:Office, Urgent Care Facility, Emergency Room - Hospital, Outpatient Hospital