Persons encountering health services for other counseling and medical advice, not elsewhere classified (Z71)
The ICD-10 code Z71 represents encounters for various types of counseling and medical advice that are not classified elsewhere in the coding system. These codes cover a broad spectrum of counseling services, including advice related to diet, substance abuse, test results, and social or psychological support.
The ICD-10 code for counseling and medical advice Z71 includes several more specific subcodes to guide precise documentation. For instance, Z71.0 is used when a person consults on behalf of someone else, often described as caregiver reassurance or communication with a coroner after an unexpected death. Z71.1 captures individuals with health concerns but no diagnosed illness, commonly known as the "worried well." Codes like Z71.3 cover dietary counseling, addressing nutrition, weight management, or involvement with dietitians. Substance abuse counseling appears under Z71.4 and Z71.5, with further detail for counseling family members. Other counseling types include tobacco abuse (Z71.6), HIV counseling (Z71.7), exercise advice, spiritual support, genetic counseling, and travel health advice. The miscellaneous Z71.89 and Z71.9 codes are reserved for other specified or unspecified counseling encounters, including patient education, family support, or advice on safety and disease prevention. This comprehensive set of codes assists medical coders in capturing nuanced counseling encounters in clinical records efficiently.
Factors influencing health status and contact with health services (Z00–Z99)
Persons encountering health services in other circumstances (Z69-Z76)
Z71 Persons encountering health services for other counseling and medical advice, not elsewhere classified
- Z71.0 Person encountering health services to consult on behalf of another person
- Z71.1 Person with feared health complaint in whom no diagnosis is made
- Z71.2 Person consulting for explanation of examination or test findings
- Z71.3 Dietary counseling and surveillance
Z71.4 Alcohol abuse counseling and surveillance
- Z71.41 Alcohol abuse counseling and surveillance of alcoholic
- Z71.42 Counseling for family member of alcoholic
Z71.5 Drug abuse counseling and surveillance
- Z71.51 Drug abuse counseling and surveillance of drug abuser
- Z71.52 Counseling for family member of drug abuser
- Z71.6 Tobacco abuse counseling
- Z71.7 Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] counseling
Z71.8 Other specified counseling
- Z71.81 Spiritual or religious counseling
- Z71.82 Exercise counseling
- Z71.83 Encounter for nonprocreative genetic counseling
- Z71.84 Encounter for health counseling related to travel
- Z71.85 Encounter for immunization safety counseling
- Z71.87 Encounter for pediatric-to-adult transition counseling
- Z71.88 Encounter for counseling for socioeconomic factors
- Z71.89 Other specified counseling
- Z71.9 Counseling, unspecified
Persons encountering health services for other counseling and medical advice, not elsewhere classified (Z71)
Instructional Notations
Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
Clinical Terms
The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.
Counseling
The giving of advice and assistance to individuals with educational or personal problems.
Directive Counseling
Counseling during which a professional plays an active role in a client's or patient's decision making by offering advice, guidance, and/or recommendations.
Distance Counseling
Counseling conducted via electronic or other non-face-to-face interactions.
Genetic Counseling
An educational process that provides information and advice to individuals or families about a genetic condition that may affect them. The purpose is to help individuals make informed decisions about marriage, reproduction, and other health management issues based on information about the genetic disease, the available diagnostic tests, and management programs. Psychosocial support is usually offered.
Sex Counseling
Advice and support given to individuals to help them understand and resolve their sexual adjustment problems. It excludes treatment for PSYCHOSEXUAL DISORDERS or PSYCHOSEXUAL DYSFUNCTION.
Vocational Guidance
Systematic efforts to assist individuals in selecting an occupation or suitable employment on the basis of aptitude, education, etc.
