2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z62.21Child in welfare custody

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z55-Z65›Z62

ICD-10-CM Z62.21
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z62.21 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for child in welfare custody. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is restricted by the Medicare Code Editor to pediatric patients (age 0 through 17), not accepted as a principal diagnosis, 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
Z62.21
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Child in welfare custody
Short Description
Child in welfare custody
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z62.2
Upbringing away from parents

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ55-Z65Persons with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances
CategoryZ62Problems related to upbringing
This CodeZ62.21Child in welfare custody

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z62.21.

Pediatric diagnoses
The Medicare Code Editor detects inconsistencies in pediatric cases by checking a patient's age and any diagnosis on the patient's record. The pediatric code edits apply to patients age range is 0–17 years inclusive (e.g., Reye's syndrome, routine child health exam).
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

Z62.21 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.

  • Child in care
  • Child in family care - finding
  • Child in foster care
  • Child in welfare custody
  • Child lives with grandparents
  • Child protection finding
  • Family disruption due to child in welfare custody
  • Family disruption due to child returning to or placed in foster care
  • Family milestones - finding
  • Member of foster family
  • Member of foster family, long-term
  • Member of foster family, short-term
  • Ward of court
  • Wardship - finding

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Child in foster care
  • Child in welfare guardianship

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.

    • Problem(with) (related to)
      • child
        • in
          • foster care
    • Problem(with) (related to)
      • child
        • in
          • welfare
            • custody
    • Problem(with) (related to)
      • child
        • in
          • welfare
            • guardianship
    • Upbringing, institutional
      • in care of non-parental family member
    • Upbringing, institutional
      • in foster care
    • Upbringing, institutional
      • in welfare custody

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

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

Convert Z62.21 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V60.81 Foster care (status)
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

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 Z62.21Overview

Is Z62.21 (Upbringing away from parents) a billable code?

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

Can Z62.21 be a principal diagnosis?

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

Who can Z62.21 be reported for?

The Medicare Code Editor checks child in welfare custody against patient demographics: this code is intended for pediatric patients (age 0 through 17). Claims outside these limits are flagged as inconsistent.

Is Z62.21 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 child in welfare custody on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z62.21?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, child in welfare custody converts to ICD-9-CM V60.81 (foster care (status)). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.