2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z43.9Encounter for attention to unspecified artificial opening

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z40-Z53›Z43

ICD-10-CM Z43.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z43.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for encounter for attention to unspecified artificial opening. 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. Coders also document this condition as ischemia of stoma. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other aftercare encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z43.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Encounter for attention to unspecified artificial opening
Short Description
Encounter for attention to unspecified artificial opening
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z43
Encounter for attention to artificial openings

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ40-Z53Encounters for other specific health care
CategoryZ43Encounter for attention to artificial openings
This CodeZ43.9Encounter for attention to unspecified artificial opening

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z43.9.

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

Z43.9 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Ischemia of stoma

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)
      • attention to artificial opening (of)
    • Attention(to)
      • artificial
        • opening (of)

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC010
Other aftercare encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Ostomy

An ostomy is surgery to create an opening (stoma) from an area inside the body to the outside. It treats certain diseases of the digestive or urinary systems. It can be permanent, when an organ must be removed. It can be temporary, when the organ needs time to heal. The organ could be the small intestine, colon, rectum, or bladder.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Z43.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V55.9 Attn to artif open NOS
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 Z43.9Overview

Is Z43.9 (Encounter for attention to artificial openings) a billable code?

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

Can Z43.9 be a principal diagnosis?

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

Is Z43.9 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 attention to unspecified artificial opening on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z43.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, encounter for attention to unspecified artificial opening converts to ICD-9-CM V55.9 (attn to artif open NOS). The mapping is a direct match.