2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z88.9Allergy status to unspecified drugs, medicaments and biological substances

ICD-10-CM CodesZ00–Z99Z77-Z99Z88

ICD-10-CM Z88.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z88.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for allergy status to unspecified drugs, medicaments and biological substances. 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 status.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z88.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Allergy status to unspecified drugs, medicaments and biological substances
Short Description
Allergy status to unspecified drug/meds/biol subst
Parent Code
Allergy status to drugs, medicaments and biological substances

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
CategoryZ88Allergy status to drugs, medicaments and biological substances
This CodeZ88.9Allergy status to unspecified drugs, medicaments and biological substances

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z88.9.

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

Z88.9 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.

  • Allergy to drug
  • Atopy
  • Cross sensitivity reaction
  • H/O: biological substance allergy
  • H/O: multiple allergies
  • History of anaphylaxis
  • History of atopy
  • History of drug-induced anaphylaxis
  • Hypersensitivity to endogenous antigen
  • Hypersensitivity to foreign antigen
  • Non-immunoglobulin E-mediated drug sensitivity
  • Propensity to adverse reactions to drug

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
      • personal (of)
        • allergy (to)
    • History
      • personal (of)
        • allergy (to)
          • drugs, medicaments and biological substances
    • History
      • personal (of)
        • allergy (to)
          • medicinal agents

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

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

Patient EducationClinical

Drug Reactions

Most of the time, medicines make our lives better. They reduce aches and pains, fight infections, and control problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes. But medicines can also cause unwanted reactions, such as drug interactions, side effects, and allergies.

The full article covers:

  • What is a drug interaction?
  • What are side effects?
  • What are drug allergies?
  • How can I stay safe when taking medicines?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Z88.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V14.9 Hx-drug allergy NOS
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 2017–2020No changes
FY 2021RevisedCode revised
FY 2022–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About Z88.9Overview

Is Z88.9 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report allergy status to unspecified drugs, medicaments and biological substances on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can Z88.9 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because allergy status to unspecified drugs, medicaments and biological substances describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

Is Z88.9 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 allergy status to unspecified drugs, medicaments and biological substances on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z88.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, allergy status to unspecified drugs, medicaments and biological substances converts to ICD-9-CM V14.9 (hx-drug allergy NOS). The mapping is a direct match.