Z20
Contact with and (suspected) exposure to communicable diseases
Choose the additional character
Z20 needs more characters to be billable. Pick the specific code below.
- Z20.0Contact with and (suspected) exposure to intestinal infectious diseasesMore levels
- Z20.1Contact with and (suspected) exposure to tuberculosisBillable
- Z20.2Contact with and (suspected) exposure to infections with a predominantly sexual mode of transmissionBillable
- Z20.3Contact with and (suspected) exposure to rabiesBillable
- Z20.4Contact with and (suspected) exposure to rubellaBillable
- Z20.5Contact with and (suspected) exposure to viral hepatitisBillable
- Z20.6Contact with and (suspected) exposure to human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]Billable
- Z20.7Contact with and (suspected) exposure to pediculosis, acariasis and other infestationsBillable
- Z20.8Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other communicable diseasesMore levels
- Z20.9Contact with and (suspected) exposure to unspecified communicable diseaseBillable
This code does not map to a risk-adjusting HCC in the loaded models.
Coding notes
Excludes 1 never coded together · Excludes 2 may co-exist
Z codes represent reasons for encounters. A corresponding procedure code must accompany a Z code if a procedure is performed. Categories Z00-Z99 are provided for occasions when circumstances other than a disease, injury or external cause classifiable to categories A00-Y89 are recorded as 'diagnoses' or 'problems'. This can arise in two main ways: (a) When a person who may or may not be sick encounters the health services for some specific purpose, such as to receive limited care or service for a current condition, to donate an organ or tissue, to receive prophylactic vaccination (immunization), or to discuss a problem which is in itself not a disease or injury. (b) When some circumstance or problem is present which influences the person's health status but is not in itself a current illness or injury.
Official Guidelines for Z20
FY 2026 ›Sections that reference Z20
- I.C.1.g.1)(e)Exposure to COVID-19Chapter 1
… exposure to COVID-19. See guideline I.C.21.c.1, Contact/Exposure, for additional guidance regarding the use of category Z20 codes. …
- I.C.21.c.1)Contact/Exposure
Category Z20 indicates contact with, and suspected exposure to, communicable diseases. …
- I.C.1.f.1)Code only confirmed casesChapter 1
… Zika, do not assign code A92.5. Assign a code(s) explaining the reason for encounter (such as fever, rash, or joint pain) or Z20.821, Contact with and (suspected) exposure to Zika virus.
- I.C.1.g.1)(g)Signs and symptoms without definitive diagnosis of COVID-Chapter 1
… with signs/symptoms associated with COVID-19 also has an actual or suspected contact with or exposure to COVID-19, assign Z20.822, Contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19, as an additional code.
- I.C.1.g.1)(l)Multisystem Inflammatory SyndromeChapter 1
… current COVID-19 infection or history of COVID-19, develops MIS, assign codes M35.81, Multisystem inflammatory syndrome, and Z20.822, Contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19. …
- I.B.3Code or codes from A00.0 through T88.9, Z00-Z99.8, U00-U85Conventions & general rules
The appropriate code or codes from A00.0 through T88.9, Z00-Z99.8, and U00-U85 must be used to identify diagnoses, symptoms, conditions, problems, complaints or other reason(s) for the …
Showing 6 of 9. Search the guidelines for Z20. Sections whose FY 2026 text names Z20, its Z20 category, or a range containing it — the chapter guidance above is the authoritative source.