2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z53Persons encountering health services for specific procedures and treatment, not carried out

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z40-Z53›Z53

ICD-10-CM Z53
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

Z53 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for persons encountering health services for specific procedures and treatment, not carried out, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as Z53.01, Z53.09, Z53.1, and Z53.20.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z53
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Persons encountering health services for specific procedures and treatment, not carried out
Short Description
Persons encntr hlth serv for spec proc & trtmt, not crd out
Chapter
Z40-Z53
Encounters for other specific health care

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ40-Z53Encounters for other specific health care
CategoryZ53Persons encountering health services for specific procedures and treatment, not carried out
This CodeZ53Persons encountering health services for specific procedures and treatment, not carried out

Specific Coding for Persons encntr hlth serv for spec proc & trtmt, not crd outOverview

Non-specific codes like Z53 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Z53.0 for Procedure and treatment not carried out because of contraindication

  • Use Z53.01 for Procedure and treatment not carried out due to patient smoking

  • Use Z53.09 for Procedure and treatment not carried out because of other contraindication

  • Use Z53.1 for Procedure and treatment not carried out because of patient's decision for reasons of belief and group pressure

  • Z53.2 for Procedure and treatment not carried out because of patient's decision for other and unspecified reasons

  • Use Z53.20 for Procedure and treatment not carried out because of patient's decision for unspecified reasons

  • Use Z53.21 for Procedure and treatment not carried out due to patient leaving prior to being seen by health care provider

  • Use Z53.29 for Procedure and treatment not carried out because of patient's decision for other reasons

  • Z53.3 for Procedure converted to open procedure

  • Use Z53.31 for Laparoscopic surgical procedure converted to open procedure

  • Use Z53.32 for Thoracoscopic surgical procedure converted to open procedure

  • Use Z53.33 for Arthroscopic surgical procedure converted to open procedure

  • Use Z53.39 for Other specified procedure converted to open procedure

  • Use Z53.8 for Procedure and treatment not carried out for other reasons

  • Use Z53.9 for Procedure and treatment not carried out, unspecified reason

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to Z53: its own notes plus those printed at block Z40-Z53 and Chapter 21. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

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 Z40-Z53 Encounters for other specific health care applies to 164 codes
  • follow-up examination for medical surveillance after treatment (Z08-Z09)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

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.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About Z53Overview

Is Z53 a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for persons encountering health services for specific procedures and treatment, not carried out, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for persons encountering health services for specific procedures and treatment, not carried out need a more specific code from this category, such as Z53.01, Z53.09, and Z53.1.