2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z55.6Problems related to health literacy

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z55-Z65›Z55

ICD-10-CM Z55.6
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z55.6 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for problems related to health literacy. 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 Socioeconomic/psychosocial factors.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z55.6
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Problems related to health literacy
Short Description
Problems related to health literacy
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z55
Problems related to education and literacy

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ55-Z65Persons with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances
CategoryZ55Problems related to education and literacy
This CodeZ55.6Problems related to health literacy

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z55.6.

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

Z55.6 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Difficulty understanding health related information
  • Difficulty understanding medication instructions
  • Problem completing medical forms

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.

    • Difficult, difficulty(in)
      • understanding
        • health related information
    • Difficult, difficulty(in)
      • understanding
        • medication instructions
    • Illiteracy
      • health
    • Problem(with) (related to)
      • completing medical forms
    • Problem(with) (related to)
      • health literacy

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC019
Socioeconomic/psychosocial factors
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement Z55.6 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • Z55.8 - Other problems related to education and literacy
FY 2024AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2023.
FY 2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About Z55.6Overview

Is Z55.6 (Problems related to education and literacy) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report problems related to health literacy on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can Z55.6 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because problems related to health literacy describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

Is Z55.6 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 problems related to health literacy on inpatient claims.