2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z71.42Counseling for family member of alcoholic

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z69-Z76›Z71

ICD-10-CM Z71.42
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z71.42 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for counseling for family member of alcoholic. 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 Other specified encounters and counseling.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z71.42
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Counseling for family member of alcoholic
Short Description
Counseling for family member of alcoholic
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z71.4
Alcohol abuse counseling and surveillance

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ69-Z76Persons encountering health services in other circumstances
CategoryZ71Persons encountering health services for other counseling and medical advice, not elsewhere classified
This CodeZ71.42Counseling for family member of alcoholic

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z71.42.

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

Z71.42 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

  • Counseling for significant other, partner, or friend of alcoholic

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.

    • Alcohol, alcoholic, alcohol-induced
      • counseling and surveillance
        • family member
    • Counseling(for)
      • alcohol abuser
        • family

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC012
Other specified encounters and counseling
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

For most adults, moderate alcohol use is probably not harmful. Your risk of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD) depends on how much, how often, and how quickly you drink alcohol. Alcohol misuse means that drinking causes distress and harm. Over time alcohol misuse can increase your risk of AUD.

The full article covers:

  • What is alcohol use disorder (AUD)?
  • What is binge drinking?
  • What are the dangers of too much alcohol?
  • How do I know if I have an alcohol use disorder (AUD)?
  • What should I do if I think that I might have an alcohol use disorder (AUD)?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Z71.42 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V65.42 Counslng sbstn use abuse
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 Z71.42Overview

Is Z71.42 (Alcohol abuse counseling and surveillance) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report counseling for family member of alcoholic on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can Z71.42 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because counseling for family member of alcoholic describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

Is Z71.42 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 for family member of alcoholic on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z71.42?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, counseling for family member of alcoholic converts to ICD-9-CM V65.42 (counslng sbstn use abuse). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.