ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code
Z20.820Contact with and (suspected) exposure to varicella
Z20.820 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for contact with and (suspected) exposure to varicella. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.
Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data
About Z20.820
Z20.820 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for contact with and (suspected) exposure to varicella. It belongs to category Z20 (contact with and (suspected) exposure to communicable diseases), block Z20-Z29 (persons with potential health hazards related to communicable diseases) and chapter 21 (factors influencing health status and contact with health services). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Within Z20.82 (contact with and (suspected) exposure to other viral communicable diseases), Z20.820 is specifically for contact with and (suspected) exposure to varicella. Related codes cover Zika virus (Z20.821), COVID-19 (Z20.822) and other viral communicable diseases (Z20.828).
It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 795 (Normal Newborn, relative weight 0.2022) and DRG 951 (Other Factors Influencing Health Status, relative weight 0.5577), in MDC 15 (Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period) and MDC 23 (Factors Influencing Health Status and Other Contacts with Health Services), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.
It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.
Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as V01.71 (contact with or exposure to varicella).
Notes that apply from higher levels
Instructions written at a parent level also apply to Z20.820.
Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 21: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services.
Alphabetic index entries
2 entriesTerms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to Z20.820.
MS-DRG v44.0 grouping
All DRGs →Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.
MDC 15 · Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period
MDC 23 · Factors Influencing Health Status and Other Contacts with Health Services
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Converter →- V01.71Contact with or exposure to varicellaexact
From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.
Code history
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
- 2027
- FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
- No changes since FY2016.
Common questions about Z20.820
Is Z20.820 billable?
- Yes. Z20.820 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can Z20.820 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict Z20.820 as a principal diagnosis.
Is Z20.820 a CC or MCC?
- No. Z20.820 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.
What DRG does Z20.820 group to?
- Z20.820 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 795 (Normal Newborn) and MS-DRG 951 (Other Factors Influencing Health Status). Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.