Z55
Problems related to education and literacy
Choose the additional character
Z55 needs more characters to be billable. Pick the specific code below.
- Z55.0Illiteracy and low-level literacyBillable
- Z55.1Schooling unavailable and unattainableBillable
- Z55.2Failed school examinationsBillable
- Z55.3Underachievement in schoolBillable
- Z55.4Educational maladjustment and discord with teachers and classmatesBillable
- Z55.5Less than a high school diplomaBillable
- Z55.6Problems related to health literacyBillable
- Z55.8Other problems related to education and literacyBillable
- Z55.9Problems related to education and literacy, unspecifiedBillable
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
disorders of psychological development (F80-F89)
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 Z55
FY 2026 ›Sections that reference Z55
- I.C.21.c.17)Social Determinants of Health
… Social determinants of health codes are located primarily in these Z code categories: Z55 Problems related to education and literacy Z56 Problems related to employment and unemployment Z57 Occupational exposure to …
- 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 …
- I.C.20.a.1)Used with any code in the range of A00.0-T88.9, Z00-Z99Chapter 20
An external cause code may be used with any code in the range of A00.0-T88.9, Z00-Z99, classification that represents a health condition due to an external cause. …
- I.C.21.c.13)Miscellaneous Z Codes
… Oral health risk factors Z91.89 Other specified personal risk factors, not elsewhere classified See Section I.B.14. for Z55-Z65 Persons with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances, documentation by clinicians …
- IV.BCodes from A00.0 through T88.9, Z00-Z99, U00-U85Outpatient services
The appropriate code(s) from A00.0 through T88.9, Z00-Z99 and U00-U85 must be used to identify diagnoses, symptoms, conditions, problems, complaints, or other reason(s) for the …
- IV.EEncounters for circumstances other than a disease or injuryOutpatient services
… The Factors Influencing Health Status and Contact with Health Services codes (Z00- Z99) are provided to deal with occasions when circumstances other than a disease or injury are recorded as diagnosis or problems. …
Sections whose FY 2026 text names Z55, its Z55 category, or a range containing it — the chapter guidance above is the authoritative source.