2025 ICD-10-CM code Z56.81
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Factors influencing health status and contact with health services - Problems related to employment and unemployment Chapter 21: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services Feed
This code classifies sexual harassment experienced in the workplace.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the specific circumstances of the visit and services rendered. Consult your local coding guidelines for specific modifier usage.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a diagnosable mental or physical health condition directly resulting from the experienced sexual harassment.The treatment must be deemed appropriate and necessary for alleviating the symptoms and improving the patient's overall well-being.
The clinical responsibility would depend on the presenting complaints of the patient resulting from the sexual harassment, which could include psychological evaluation, treatment of anxiety, depression, or PTSD, etc.
- Chapter 21: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
- Factors influencing health status and contact with health services > Persons with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances > Problems related to employment and unemployment
In simple words: This code is used when someone goes to a doctor or other healthcare provider because they have been sexually harassed at work.
ICD-10-CM code Z56.81, Sexual harassment on the job, is used to classify encounters where an individual presents for care due to experiencing sexual harassment in their work environment.This code is part of the broader category of problems related to employment and unemployment (Z56).It is important to note that if a procedure is performed during the encounter, a corresponding procedure code should also be used.
Example 1: A patient presents to their physician complaining of anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances following a series of sexually harassing incidents at their workplace.The physician provides counseling and prescribes medication.Code Z56.81 would be used to describe the reason for the encounter, alongside codes for the specific mental health diagnoses and any treatments administered., A patient visits an occupational health clinic reporting symptoms of stress, such as headaches and stomach problems, attributed to ongoing sexual harassment.The clinician documents the harassment and provides a referral for mental health services. Z56.81 would be used, along with relevant codes for the physical and mental health complaints., A patient seeks therapy at a mental health clinic, specifically noting sexual harassment at work as the primary trigger for their current emotional distress.The therapist provides therapy sessions, and Z56.81 is utilized to capture the underlying cause of their treatment needs.
Documentation should include a detailed history of the sexual harassment, including dates, frequency, type of harassment, and the impact on the patient's physical and mental health.Any witness statements or reports should be documented. The physician's assessment of the patient's condition, diagnosis, and treatment plan must be clearly recorded.
** This code is primarily for documenting the reason for the encounter.It should always be accompanied by codes reflecting the specific diagnoses and procedures performed during the visit, if any.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Psychiatry, Psychology, Occupational Medicine, Family Medicine
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient clinic, Mental health clinic, Occupational health clinic, Hospital