2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z13.31Encounter for screening for depression

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z00-Z13›Z13

ICD-10-CM Z13.31
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

Z13.31 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for encounter for screening for depression. 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 not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor and exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as depression screening positive. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Encounter for mental health conditions.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z13.31
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Encounter for screening for depression
Short Description
Encounter for screening for depression
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z13.3
Encounter for screening examination for mental health and behavioral disorders

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ00-Z13Persons encountering health services for examinations
CategoryZ13Encounter for screening for other diseases and disorders
This CodeZ13.31Encounter for screening for depression

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z13.31.

Unacceptable principal diagnosis
There are selected codes that describe a circumstance which influences an individual's health status but not a current illness or injury, or codes that are not specific manifestations but may be due to an underlying cause. These codes are considered unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Z13.31 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).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Depression screening positive
  • Positive screening for depression on PHQ-2
  • Positive screening for depression on PHQ-9

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to Z13.31: its own notes plus those printed at Z13, block Z00-Z13, and Chapter 21. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Applicable To

Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Encounter for screening for depression, adult
  • Encounter for screening for depression for child or adolescent

Excludes1

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

From Z13 Encounter for screening for other diseases and disorders applies to 30 codes
  • encounter for diagnostic examination-code to sign or symptom

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 Block Z00-Z13 Persons encountering health services for examinations applies to 156 codes
  • examinations related to pregnancy and reproduction (Z30-Z36, Z39.-)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

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 Z13.31, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 2

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming Z13.31: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • Z00 Encounter for general examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis
    special screening examinations (Z11-Z13) names Z11-Z13, which includes this code
  • Z01 Encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis
    screening examinations (Z11-Z13) names Z11-Z13, 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 FAC007
Encounter for mental health conditions
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Depression

Depression is more than a feeling of being sad or irritable for a few days. It's a serious mood disorder. As one of the most common mental disorders in the United States, depression can affect how you think, feel, and your everyday life.

The full article covers:

  • What is depression?
  • What are the different types of depression?
  • What causes depression?
  • Who is at risk of depression?
  • What are the symptoms of depression?
  • How is depression diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for depression?
  • Can depression be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement Z13.31 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • Z13.8 - Encounter for screening for oth diseases and disorders
FY 2019AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2018.
FY 2020–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About Z13.31Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for encounter for screening for depression?

The ICD-10-CM code for encounter for screening for depression is Z13.31 (sometimes written as Z1331). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is Z13.31 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report encounter for screening for depression on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does Z13.31 group to?

On inpatient claims, encounter for screening for depression maps to MS-DRG 951 (other Factors Influencing Health Status), which carries a relative weight of 0.5574. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can Z13.31 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because encounter for screening for depression describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

Is Z13.31 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 screening for depression on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Persons encountering health services for examinations (Z00-Z13) range of the CMS exempt list.