2025 ICD-10-CM code Z79
Long term (current) drug therapy.This includes long-term drug use for prophylactic purposes.
Medical necessity must be established for the long-term drug therapy. This may include documentation of the underlying condition being treated or prevented, the efficacy of the chosen medication, and the lack of alternative treatments.
The provider is responsible for documenting the specific drug therapy, the reason for the therapy (prophylactic or treatment), and monitoring the patient for any adverse effects.
In simple words: This code indicates that the patient is currently taking medication long-term, possibly for prevention of a condition rather than treatment.
Long term (current) drug therapy. Includes: long term (current) drug use for prophylactic purposes. Excludes2: drug abuse and dependence (F11-F19) drug use complicating pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium (O99.32-)
Example 1: A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is taking a long-term anticoagulant medication (e.g., warfarin) to prevent future blood clots. The Z79 code is used to indicate the reason for the encounter is ongoing drug therapy., A patient with high cholesterol is taking a statin medication for long-term management. They present for routine monitoring of their cholesterol levels. Z79 can be used as secondary code for the continuous drug therapy., A patient is on long-term immunosuppressants following an organ transplant. They visit their physician for regular follow-up to monitor their medication levels and overall health.The Z79 code is used to indicate ongoing drug therapy and is not the main reason of visit.
Documentation should include the specific medication(s) being taken, the dosage, the frequency, the duration of therapy, the indication for the therapy, and any relevant monitoring results (e.g., therapeutic drug levels, INR for warfarin).
** It's crucial to differentiate Z79 (Long term (current) drug therapy) from codes related to medication management (e.g., Z51.81 for therapeutic drug level monitoring) or other reasons for encounters. Proper use of Z79 ensures accurate representation of the patient's health status and the services provided.
- Specialties:General practice, internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, transplant surgery, and other specialties that manage chronic conditions requiring long-term medications.
- Place of Service:Office, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, and other places where medication management and monitoring can occur.