2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z01.021Encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening with abnormal findings

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z00-Z13›Z01

ICD-10-CM Z01.021
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

Z01.021 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening with abnormal findings. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 951. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Medical examination/evaluation.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z01.021
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening with abnormal findings
Short Description
Enctr for exam of eyes and vis fol fail vis scrn wbn find
Parent Code
Z01.02
Encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ00-Z13Persons encountering health services for examinations
CategoryZ01Encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis
This CodeZ01.021Encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening with abnormal findings

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Z01.021 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Persons encountering health services for examinations (Z00-Z13).

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to Z01.021: its own notes plus those printed at Z01.02, Z01.0, Z01, block Z00-Z13, and Chapter 21. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From Z01 Encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis applies to 23 codes
  • routine examination of specific system

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

From Z01.02 Encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening applies to 2 codes
  • encounter for examination of eyes and vision with abnormal findings (Z01.01)
  • encounter for examination of eyes and vision without abnormal findings (Z01.00)
From Z01.0 Encounter for examination of eyes and vision applies to 4 codes
  • examination for driving license (Z02.4)
From Z01 Encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis applies to 23 codes
  • encounter for examination for administrative purposes (Z02.-)
  • encounter for examination for suspected conditions, proven not to exist (Z03.-)
  • encounter for laboratory, radiologic and imaging examinations for sign(s) and symptom(s) - code to the sign(s) or symptom(s)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Z01 Encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis applies to 23 codes
  • encounter for laboratory and radiologic examinations as a component of general medical examinations (Z00.0-)
  • screening examinations (Z11-Z13)
From Block Z00-Z13 Persons encountering health services for examinations applies to 156 codes
  • examinations related to pregnancy and reproduction (Z30-Z36, Z39.-)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

  • code to identify abnormal findings

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Z01 Encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis applies to 23 codes
  • Codes from category Z01 represent the reason for the encounter. A separate procedure code is required to identify any examinations or procedures performed
From Block Z00-Z13 Persons encountering health services for examinations applies to 156 codes
  • Nonspecific abnormal findings disclosed at the time of these examinations are classified to categories R70-R94.
From Chapter 21 (Z00-Z99) Factors influencing health status and contact with health services applies to 1,425 codes
  • 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.

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name Z01.021, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming Z01.021: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • Z02.7 Encounter for issue of medical certificate
    encounter for general medical examination (Z00-Z01, Z02.0-Z02.6, Z02.8-Z02.9) names Z00-Z01, which includes this code

Excludes2 2

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming Z01.021: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • Z13.5 Encounter for screening for eye and ear disorders
    encounter for general vision examination (Z01.0-) names Z01.0-, which includes this code
  • Z71.84 Encounter for health counseling related to travel
    encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis (Z01.-) names Z01.-, which includes this code

Notes 1

These notes mention Z01.021.

  • Z01 Encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis
    Codes from category Z01 represent the reason for the encounter. A separate procedure code is required to identify any examinations or procedures performed names Z01, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR FAC014
Medical examination/evaluation
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement Z01.021 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • Z01.01 - Encounter for exam of eyes and vision w abnormal findings
FY 2020AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2019.
FY 2021–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About Z01.021Overview

Is Z01.021 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening with abnormal findings on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does Z01.021 group to?

When encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening with abnormal findings is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 951 (other Factors Influencing Health Status), which carries a relative weight of 0.5574. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is Z01.021 exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening with abnormal findings on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Persons encountering health services for examinations (Z00-Z13) range of the CMS exempt list.

Can Z01.021 be reported with Z01.01?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at Z01.02, which applies to Z01.021, lists "encounter for examination of eyes and vision with abnormal findings (Z01.01)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Does Z01.021 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code to identify abnormal findings. The additional code is reported after Z01.021.