2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z59.02Unsheltered homelessness

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z55-Z65›Z59

ICD-10-CM Z59.02
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z59.02 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unsheltered homelessness. 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 living rough. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Socioeconomic/psychosocial factors.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z59.02
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Unsheltered homelessness
Short Description
Unsheltered homelessness
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z59.0
Homelessness

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ55-Z65Persons with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances
CategoryZ59Problems related to housing and economic circumstances
This CodeZ59.02Unsheltered homelessness

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z59.02.

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

Z59.02 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.

  • Living rough
  • Sleeping in vehicle
  • Sleeping out
  • Temporary shelter arrangements - finding
  • Unsheltered homelessness
  • Unsheltered homelessness, sleeping in safe environment

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Lives in a homeless encampment
  • Residing in place not meant for human habitation such as: abandoned buildings, cars, parks, sidewalk
  • Residing on the street

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.

    • Homelessness
      • unsheltered
    • Lack of
      • shelter
    • Lives in a homeless encampment
    • Person(with)
      • living (in)
        • without
          • shelter
    • Residing
      • in place not meant for human habitation (abandoned building) (car) (park) (sidewalk)
    • Residing
      • on the street

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 Z59.02 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • Z59.0 - Homelessness
FY 2022AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2021.
FY 2023–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About Z59.02Overview

Is Z59.02 (Homelessness) a billable code?

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

Can Z59.02 be a principal diagnosis?

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

Is Z59.02 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 unsheltered homelessness on inpatient claims.