2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z41.3Encounter for ear piercing

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z40-Z53›Z41

ICD-10-CM Z41.3
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z41.3 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for encounter for ear piercing. 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 and exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Encounter for prophylactic or other procedures.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z41.3
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Encounter for ear piercing
Short Description
Encounter for ear piercing
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z41
Encounter for procedures for purposes other than remedying health state

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ40-Z53Encounters for other specific health care
CategoryZ41Encounter for procedures for purposes other than remedying health state
This CodeZ41.3Encounter for ear piercing

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z41.3.

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

Z41.3 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

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.

    • Admission(for)
      • ear piercing
    • Ear
      • piercing
    • Encounter(with health service) (for)
      • ear piercing

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC004
Encounter for prophylactic or other procedures
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Piercing and Tattoos

Piercings and tattoos are body decorations that go back to ancient times. Body piercing involves making a hole in the skin so that you can insert jewelry. This is often in the earlobe, but can be in other parts of the body. Tattoos are designs on the skin made with needles and colored ink. A permanent tattoo is meant to last forever.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Z41.3 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
V50.3 Ear piercing
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About Z41.3Overview

Is Z41.3 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report encounter for ear piercing on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can Z41.3 be a principal diagnosis?

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

Is Z41.3 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 ear piercing on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z41.3?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, encounter for ear piercing converts to ICD-9-CM V50.3 (ear piercing). The mapping is a direct match.