2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z78.1Physical restraint status

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z77-Z99›Z78

ICD-10-CM Z78.1
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z78.1 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for physical restraint status. 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 handcuffs placed for legal restraint. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified status.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z78.1
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Physical restraint status
Short Description
Physical restraint status
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z78
Other specified health status

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ77-Z99Persons with potential health hazards related to family and personal history and certain conditions influencing health status
CategoryZ78Other specified health status
This CodeZ78.1Physical restraint status

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z78.1.

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

Z78.1 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.

  • Handcuffs placed for legal restraint
  • Legal physical restraint performed
  • Legal restraint performed by manhandling
  • Plastic bindings placed for legal restraint
  • Strait jacket placed for legal restraint

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Type 1 Excludes

  • physical restraint due to a procedure - omit code

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.

    • Physical restraint status
    • Status(post)
      • physical restraint

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC025
Other specified status
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient Yes

Convert Z78.1 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V49.87 Physical restrain status
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

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 Z78.1Overview

Is Z78.1 (Other specified health status) a billable code?

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

Can Z78.1 be a principal diagnosis?

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

Is Z78.1 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 physical restraint status on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z78.1?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, physical restraint status converts to ICD-9-CM V49.87 (physical restrain status). The mapping is a direct match.