2025 ICD-10-CM code Z56
Problems related to employment and unemployment.
Medical necessity for using Z56 is determined by the clinical judgment that the employment-related problem is influencing the patient's health status and requires attention or intervention by a healthcare professional.It should be used when the encounter is specifically for the employment concern and not for an unrelated illness or injury. It is essential to link the Z code to the primary reason for the visit if it is related.
Clinicians, including physicians, nurses, social workers, community health workers, case managers, and other providers can document a patient's social needs using Z codes. These codes capture reasons for encounters with healthcare services related to circumstances other than a disease, injury, or external cause.A corresponding procedure code must accompany a Z code if a procedure is performed.
- Chapter 21: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services (Z00-Z99)
- Persons with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances (Z55-Z65)
In simple words: This code covers various issues related to work, including being unemployed, changing jobs, fear of losing a job, a stressful work schedule, problems with coworkers or bosses, an unpleasant work environment, physical or mental stress from work, workplace sexual harassment, and being deployed in the military.
Problems related to employment and unemployment. This includes unemployment, job change, threat of job loss, stressful work schedule, discord with boss and workmates, uncongenial work environment, other physical and mental strain related to work, sexual harassment on the job, military deployment status and other and unspecified problems related to employment.
Example 1: A patient experiencing stress and anxiety due to recent job loss presents to their physician for counseling and support. The physician documents Z56.0 (Unemployment, unspecified)., A patient reports experiencing increased migraines related to ongoing workplace harassment by a supervisor. The physician uses Z56.81 (Sexual harassment on the job)., A patient with a history of depression experiences an exacerbation of symptoms after changing jobs to a high-pressure environment. The physician can document Z56.1 (Change of job) along with the appropriate code for the depression diagnosis.
Documentation should clearly specify the nature of the employment-related problem and its impact on the patient's health status. Details about the specific issue, duration, severity, and related symptoms should be included in the medical record.
- Specialties:Primary care, behavioral health, occupational medicine, social work
- Place of Service:Office, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Community Mental Health Center, Federally Qualified Health Center, Public Health Clinic, Rural Health Clinic, Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home, Telehealth Provided Other than in Patient’s Home