2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z79Long term (current) drug therapy

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z77-Z99›current

ICD-10-CM Z79
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

Z79 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for long term (current) drug therapy, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as Z79.01, Z79.02, Z79.1, and Z79.2.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z79
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Long term (current) drug therapy
Short Description
Long term (current) drug therapy
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
Z77-Z99
Persons with potential health hazards related to family and personal history and certain conditions influencing 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
CategorycurrentLong term drug therapy (Z79)
This CodeZ79Long term (current) drug therapy

Specific Coding for Long term (current) drug therapyOverview

Non-specific codes like Z79 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Z79.0 for Long term (current) use of anticoagulants and antithrombotics/antiplatelets

  • Use Z79.01 for Long term (current) use of anticoagulants

  • Use Z79.02 for Long term (current) use of antithrombotics/antiplatelets

  • Use Z79.1 for Long term (current) use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAID)

  • Use Z79.2 for Long term (current) use of antibiotics

  • Use Z79.3 for Long term (current) use of hormonal contraceptives

  • Use Z79.4 for Long term (current) use of insulin

  • Z79.5 for Long term (current) use of steroids

  • Use Z79.51 for Long term (current) use of inhaled steroids

  • Use Z79.52 for Long term (current) use of systemic steroids

  • Z79.6 for Long term (current) use of immunomodulators and immunosuppressants

  • Use Z79.60 for Long term (current) use of unspecified immunomodulators and immunosuppressants

  • Use Z79.61 for Long term (current) use of immunomodulator

  • Z79.62 for Long term (current) use of immunosuppressant

  • Z79.63 for Long term (current) use of chemotherapeutic agent

  • Use Z79.64 for Long term (current) use of myelosuppressive agent

  • Use Z79.69 for Long term (current) use of other immunomodulators and immunosuppressants

  • Z79.8 for Other long term (current) drug therapy

  • Z79.81 for Long term (current) use of agents affecting estrogen receptors and estrogen levels

  • Use Z79.82 for Long term (current) use of aspirin

  • Use Z79.83 for Long term (current) use of bisphosphonates

  • Use Z79.84 for Long term (current) use of oral hypoglycemic drugs

  • Use Z79.85 for Long-term (current) use of injectable non-insulin antidiabetic drugs

  • Z79.89 for Other long term (current) drug therapy

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to Z79: its own notes plus those printed at block Z77-Z99 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.

  • long term (current) drug use for prophylactic purposes

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.

  • drug abuse and dependence (F11-F19)
  • drug use complicating pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium (O99.32-)

Code Also

A second code may be needed to fully describe the condition; the note gives no sequencing direction.

On Z79 itself
  • any therapeutic drug level monitoring (Z51.81)
From Block Z77-Z99 Persons with potential health hazards related to family and personal history and certain conditions influencing health status applies to 567 codes
  • any follow-up examination (Z08-Z09)

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 Z79, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming Z79: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • Z92.2 Personal history of drug therapy
    long term (current) drug therapy (Z79.-)

Code Also 1

These codes say Z79 may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • Z51.81 Encounter for therapeutic drug level monitoring
    any long-term (current) drug therapy (Z79.-)

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 Z79Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for long term (current) drug therapy?

Z79 is the ICD-10-CM category for long term (current) drug therapy, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is Z79 (Long term (current) drug therapy) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for long term (current) drug therapy, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for long term (current) drug therapy need a more specific code from this category, such as Z79.01, Z79.02, and Z79.1.