2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z71.6Tobacco abuse counseling

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z69-Z76›Z71

ICD-10-CM Z71.6
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z71.6 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for tobacco abuse counseling. 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
Z71.6
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Tobacco abuse counseling
Short Description
Tobacco abuse counseling
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z71
Persons encountering health services for other counseling and medical advice, not elsewhere classified

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 CodeZ71.6Tobacco abuse counseling

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z71.6.

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

Z71.6 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.

Use Additional Code

  • code for nicotine dependence F17

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.

    • Counseling(for)
      • substance abuse
        • tobacco
    • Counseling(for)
      • tobacco use
    • Dependence(on) (syndrome)
      • tobacco
        • counseling and surveillance
    • Tobacco(nicotine)
      • use
        • counseling and surveillance

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

Smokeless Tobacco

Many people who chew tobacco or dip snuff think it's safer than smoking. But you don't have to smoke tobacco for it to be dangerous. Chewing or dipping carries risks like:

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Z71.6 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 Z71.6Overview

Is Z71.6 a billable code?

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

Can Z71.6 be a principal diagnosis?

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

Is Z71.6 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 tobacco abuse counseling on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z71.6?

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