In the last decade, there has been an increase in mental health conditions and substance use disorders observed across the globe. Whereas such conditions may vary from mild to severe and are treatable, physicians often find them difficult to code and bill.
Generally, behavioral health physicians rely on the International Classification of Disease (ICD) by the World Health Organization as a tool for medical diagnoses. From time to time, WHO issues updates to the ICD, with ICD-10 being the latest version. It is from the ICD that the US developed clinical modifications, meaning physicians adhere to ICD-10-CM.
One of the primary reasons that coding and billing are so complex and cumbersome is the need to provide detailed justification for the services that you provide. Unfortunately, the 70,000 different codes that describe conditions, signs, symptoms, complaints, findings, and external causes of injury do not aid this process.
Even worse, some patients may require therapy, and their symptoms do not meet the requirements for a diagnosis. As a result, such patients often do not receive the necessary treatment, as billing them is difficult.
It is for such scenarios that there are Z codes. Read on to learn more about Z codes and when a healthcare provider may choose to use them.
What are Z Codes?
There are three primary categories under the ICD-10 code guidelines for mental health: G, Z, and F. The Z codes (Z00-Z99) provide descriptions for when the symptoms a patient displays do not point to a specific disorder but still warrant treatment.
The Z codes serve as a replacement for V codes in the ICD-10 and are 3-6 characters long. In specific situations such as administrative examinations and aftercare, you can bill them as first-listed codes. You can also use them as secondary codes.
Some of the situations in which Z code are applicable include:
- When a person, whether sick or not, receives treatment for a specific purpose, current condition, or to discuss a problem that is not an injury or disease in itself
- When something that is not an illness or injury affects a person’s health status
Which are the Common Z Codes for Therapists?
Considering that Z codes are specifically for situations where patients display symptoms that you cannot associate with a particular condition, there are many.
Some of the common ones your therapists will encounter include:
- Z00.4 (general psychiatric examination, not elsewhere classified)
- Z03.2 (observation for suspected mental and behavioral disorders)
- Z04.6 (general psychiatric examination, requested by authority)
- Z09.3 (follow-up examination after psychotherapy)
- Z13.3 (special screening examination for mental and behavioral disorders)
- Z13.4 (special screening examination for certain developmental disorders in childhood)
- Z50.4 (psychotherapy, not elsewhere classified)
- Z54.3 (convalescence following psychotherapy)
- Z63.0 (problems in relationship with spouse or partner)
- Z71.1 (person with feared complaint in whom no diagnosis is made)
- Z71.9 (counseling, unspecified)
- Z81.8 (family history of other mental and behavioral disorders)
- Z91.4 (personal history of psychological trauma, not elsewhere classified
You can find the full list of Z codes on the World Health Organization’s ICD-10 code guidelines page.
When Might a Provider Use Z Codes?
The intention for developing Z codes is to ensure patients receive the necessary attention and make it easier for behavioral health facilities to code and bill. However, there is a significant deterrence.
In some cases, Z codes are not covered by insurance. So, even if you can treat and code the unique symptoms, billing a patient becomes problematic. This is why many therapists opt not to use Z codes, as it may result in time wastage if an insurance company rejects the claim. Furthermore, when such claims are turned down, the patients are unlikely to proceed with treatment as they will need to foot the costs out of pocket.
However, there are still facilities that are willing to submit such claims, albeit with a little caution, depending on the specifics of the case.
Considering that providing care is your priority, there is a way to achieve this and still receive reimbursement. This is by using adjustment disorder codes instead of Z codes. Adjustment disorder codes cater to emotional and behavioral symptoms. You can use them for up to six months as you defer specific diagnoses. This allows you to bill such symptoms as provided under F43.2 of ICD-10 code guidelines.
The Importance of Z Codes
Behavioral and mental health is an essential aspect of overall health and wellness. Sadly, unlike injuries and other illnesses, they are not easily diagnosable. This is because many factors can contribute to such conditions, and they develop gradually, making it even more challenging to notice them.
Furthermore, due to the lack of awareness of such conditions, not many people appreciate their magnitude. As such, not all seek the necessary care, and for those who do, receiving it is a challenge.
This is why Z codes are important, as they cover a wide range of stress factors that contribute to behavioral health conditions. These include:
- Traumatic brain disorder (TBI)
- Employment-related problems
- Housing challenges
- Psychosocial challenges such as unwanted pregnancy and imprisonment
- Psychological traumas not classified elsewhere
Albeit, understandably, some behavioral health organizations opt not to use Z codes, it’s important to appreciate the role they play in delivering quality care. One of the primary challenges with mental health conditions is that the patients may not be aware or may be in denial. Factors that will affect their capacity to receive or respond to care.
Since Z codes focus on any element affecting the patient’s health, they are a great tool for capturing their mental health over time. With such data on hand, it becomes a lot easier for therapists to diagnose or determine appropriate treatment plans.
From a coding and billing perspective, charting the progress increases the chances of being reimbursed for care.
Understanding Z Codes Is Just the Beginning
Undoubtedly, a firm grasp of Z codes is essential for you to code and bill accurately. However, you need to accompany this with the right behavioral health technology to facilitate the billing process.
TenEleven provides technological support to behavioral health agencies. Our electronic Clinical Record solution will help you manage various aspects of your behavioral health facility. Request a free demo today to see how it can help streamline your practice.
