2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z20.822Contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z20-Z29›suspected

ICD-10-CM Z20.822
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z20.822 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor. Coders also document this condition as coronavirus infection suspected. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Exposure, encounters, screening or contact with infectious disease.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z20.822
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19
Short Description
Contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z20.82
Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other viral communicable diseases

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ20-Z29Persons with potential health hazards related to communicable diseases
CategorysuspectedContact with and exposure to communicable diseases (Z20)
This CodeZ20.822Contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z20.822.

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.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Coronavirus infection suspected
  • Exposure to coronavirus infection
  • Exposure to SARS-CoV-2
  • Occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2
  • Suspected COVID-19

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Contact with and (suspected) exposure to SARS-CoV-2

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Contact(with)
      • coronavirus (disease) (novel) 2019
    • Contact(with)
      • COVID-19
    • Contact(with)
      • SARS-CoV-2
    • COVID-19
      • contact (with)
    • COVID-19
      • exposure (to)
    • Exposure(to)
      • coronavirus (disease) (novel) 2019
    • Exposure(to)
      • COVID-19
    • Exposure(to)
      • SARS-CoV-2

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC016
Exposure, encounters, screening or contact with infectious disease
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is an illness caused by a virus. This virus is a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. It spreads when a person who has the infection breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement Z20.822 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • Z20.828 - Contact w and exposure to oth viral communicable diseases
FY 2022AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2021.
FY 2023–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About Z20.822Overview

Is Z20.822 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19 on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can Z20.822 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19 describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.