2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z70.1Counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z69-Z76›Z70

ICD-10-CM Z70.1
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

Z70.1 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 951. 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 sexual orientation confusion. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Counseling related to sexual behavior or orientation.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z70.1
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation
Short Description
Counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientn
Parent Code
Counseling related to sexual attitude, behavior and orientation

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ69-Z76Persons encountering health services in other circumstances
CategoryZ70Counseling related to sexual attitude, behavior and orientation
This CodeZ70.1Counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z70.1.

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

Z70.1 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review the other POA exempt codes in Persons encountering health services in other circumstances (Z69-Z76).

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Sexual orientation confusion

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to Z70.1: its own notes plus those printed at Z70 and Chapter 21. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From Z70 Counseling related to sexual attitude, behavior and orientation applies to 6 codes
  • encounter for mental health services for sexual attitude, behavior and orientation

Applicable To

Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Patient concerned regarding impotence
  • Patient concerned regarding non-responsiveness
  • Patient concerned regarding promiscuity
  • Patient concerned regarding sexual orientation

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 Z70 Counseling related to sexual attitude, behavior and orientation applies to 6 codes
  • contraceptive or procreative counseling (Z30-Z31)

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.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name Z70.1, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming Z70.1: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • Z63.0 Problems in relationship with spouse or partner
    counseling related to sexual attitude, behavior, and orientation (Z70.-) names Z70.-, which includes this code

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming Z70.1: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • Z71 Persons encountering health services for other counseling and medical advice, not elsewhere classified
    sex counseling (Z70.-) names Z70.-, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC011
Counseling related to sexual behavior or orientation
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Sexual Health

Sexuality is a big part of being human. Love, affection and sexual intimacy all play a role in healthy relationships. They also contribute to your sense of well-being. A number of disorders can affect the ability to have or enjoy sex in both men and women.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Z70.1 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V65.49 Other specfd counseling
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 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About Z70.1Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation?

The ICD-10-CM code for counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation is Z70.1 (sometimes written as Z701). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is Z70.1 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does Z70.1 group to?

On inpatient claims, counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation maps to MS-DRG 951 (other Factors Influencing Health Status), which carries a relative weight of 0.5574. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can Z70.1 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

Is Z70.1 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 counseling related to patient's sexual behavior and orientation on inpatient claims. The code appears in the Persons encountering health services in other circumstances (Z69-Z76) range of the CMS exempt list.