In ICD-9, V codes were used to indicate reasons for encounters that did not involve an illness or injury, such as routine exams or vaccinations. However, in ICD-10, V codes have been replaced with Z codes, which have a similar purpose but with some differences.
Z codes in ICD-10 are used to indicate reasons for encounters that are not related to a disease or injury, such as routine exams, family planning, or social circumstances. Some examples of Z codes include:
- Z00.00 – Encounter for general adult medical examination without abnormal findings
- Z23 – Encounter for immunization
- Z30.2 – Encounter for contraception counseling and prescription
In addition to the V code equivalents, there are also new Z codes in ICD-10 that cover additional circumstances, such as:
- Z55 – Problems related to education and literacy
- Z56 – Problems related to employment and unemployment
- Z65 – Problems related to other psychosocial circumstances
It is important to note that Z codes are not intended to be used as primary diagnoses, but rather as additional codes to describe a patient’s circumstances or reasons for the encounter. When selecting a Z code, it is important to choose the code that best describes the patient’s situation, as there may be multiple codes that could be used.