2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z81.1Family history of alcohol abuse and dependence

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z77-Z99›Z81

ICD-10-CM Z81.1
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z81.1 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for family history of alcohol abuse and dependence. 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 family history of alcoholism. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Family history of disease.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z81.1
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Family history of alcohol abuse and dependence
Short Description
Family history of alcohol abuse and dependence
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z81
Family history of mental and behavioral disorders

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
CategoryZ81Family history of mental and behavioral disorders
This CodeZ81.1Family history of alcohol abuse and dependence

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z81.1.

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

Z81.1 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.

  • Family history of alcoholism
  • Family history of harmful pattern of substance use
  • Family history of substance dependency
  • Father has harmful pattern of alcohol use
  • H/O - maternal psychiatric problem
  • Maternal substance abuse
  • Mother has harmful pattern of alcohol use

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Conditions classifiable to F10

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.

    • History
      • family (of)
        • alcohol abuse
    • History
      • family (of)
        • substance abuse NEC
          • alcohol

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC028
Family history of disease
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 Z81.1 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V19.8 Family hx-condition NEC
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 Z81.1Overview

Is Z81.1 (Family history of mental and behavioral disorders) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report family history of alcohol abuse and dependence on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can Z81.1 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because family history of alcohol abuse and dependence describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

Is Z81.1 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 family history of alcohol abuse and dependence on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z81.1?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, family history of alcohol abuse and dependence converts to ICD-9-CM V19.8 (family hx-condition NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.