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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

Z20.822Contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19

✓ Billable / specificNot a principal dx

Z20.822 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for contact with and (suspected) exposure to covid-19. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.

Code last changed in FY2021 (effective October 1, 2020). Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About Z20.822

Z20.822 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19. 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), Z20.822 is specifically for contact with and (suspected) exposure to COVID-19. Related codes cover varicella (Z20.820), Zika virus (Z20.821) 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 is not acceptable as the principal diagnosis for an inpatient stay; it may be reported as a secondary diagnosis.

It was added in FY2021, effective October 1, 2020.

Coding notes

Applicable toConditions and synonyms classified to this code
  • Contact with and (suspected) exposure to SARS-CoV-2

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to Z20.822.

› From Z20 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to communicable diseases
Excludes1
  • carrier of infectious disease (Z22.-)
  • diagnosed current infectious or parasitic disease -see Alphabetic Index
Excludes2
  • personal history of infectious and parasitic diseases (Z86.1-)

Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 21: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services.

Alphabetic index entries

8 entries

Terms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to Z20.822.

Codes whose notes reference Z20.822

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

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2021 (effective 10/1/2020): Added
  • No changes since FY2021.

Common questions about Z20.822

Is Z20.822 billable?

Yes. Z20.822 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can Z20.822 be used as a principal diagnosis?

No. It is not acceptable as the principal diagnosis for an inpatient stay; it may be reported as a secondary diagnosis.

Is Z20.822 a CC or MCC?

No. Z20.822 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.

What DRG does Z20.822 group to?

Z20.822 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.