In simple words: This code tells the doctor that the patient has had a health problem in the past, but it is not a problem now. The doctor might use this code when the patient comes in for a check-up or to talk about something that happened to them in the past. If the patient needs a procedure, the doctor will need to use a code to describe the procedure, in addition to this code.

This code is used to document a patient's personal history of diseases or conditions that are not currently active.It is a Z code, indicating a reason for encounter rather than an active diagnosis.A corresponding procedure code should be used if a procedure is performed during the encounter.This code encompasses a broad range of past medical issues and should be specified further with additional codes whenever possible (e.g., Z87.0 for respiratory system diseases, Z87.1 for digestive system diseases, etc.).If a follow-up examination is conducted after treatment for a previous condition, code Z09 should be used as the primary code.

Example 1: A 60-year-old patient with a history of hypertension (now controlled with medication) presents for an annual physical exam.Z87 would be used to document the history of hypertension, while additional codes would describe the current exam findings., A 45-year-old patient with a history of asthma (currently well-controlled) presents for a routine check-up. Z87 is used along with codes indicating current, normal respiratory findings., A 30-year-old patient with a history of childhood tonsillitis presents for a routine check-up. Z87 is used to capture the past medical information; no other codes are needed if the patient is presently healthy.

Patient's medical records, including past medical history documented by previous providers.Detailed notes about the patient's current health status are required to justify the use of code Z87 in the absence of active disease.

** This code is often used in conjunction with other codes to provide a complete picture of the patient's health status. It's crucial to document the reason for the encounter and any current health issues.Always review payer-specific guidelines for reimbursement rules related to Z codes.