2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z51.5Encounter for palliative care

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z40-Z53›Z51

ICD-10-CM Z51.5
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z51.5 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for encounter for palliative care. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is exempt from POA reporting. Coders also document this condition as seen by palliative care medicine service. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other aftercare encounter.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z51.5
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Encounter for palliative care
Short Description
Encounter for palliative care
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z51
Encounter for other aftercare and medical care

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ40-Z53Encounters for other specific health care
CategoryZ51Encounter for other aftercare and medical care
This CodeZ51.5Encounter for palliative care

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Z51.5 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.

  • Seen by palliative care medicine service
  • Seen by palliative care physician
  • Seen by palliative care service
  • Under care of palliative care physician

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.

    • Care(of) (for) (following)
      • palliative
    • Encounter(with health service) (for)
      • palliative care
    • Palliative care

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC010
Other aftercare encounter
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Palliative Care

Palliative care is treatment of the discomfort, symptoms, and stress of serious illness. It provides relief from distressing symptoms including:

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Z51.5 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V66.7 Encountr palliative care
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 Z51.5Overview

Is Z51.5 (Encounter for other aftercare and medical care) a billable code?

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

Is Z51.5 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 palliative care on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z51.5?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, encounter for palliative care converts to ICD-9-CM V66.7 (encountr palliative care). The mapping is a direct match.