Surgical Aftercare ICD-10-CM Codes | 2023
Check out this guide to learn about the ICD-10 codes used for surgical aftercare, whether they’re billable, and some clinical information.
Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.
What ICD-10 Codes are Used for Surgical Aftercare
When it comes to medical coding, typically, Z codes are the ICD codes for surgical aftercare. Practitioners may use these codes after the initial treatment of a disease has been performed, and the patient needs continued care while they heal or recover.
Remember that if you plan to use such codes, there are things to consider. Some of them are that a single aftercare code may not be enough and seven-character codes aren’t meant to be used with aftercare Z ICD-10 codes.
If you’re in charge of looking for the ICD 10 code to accurately track your patient’s condition, medically bill, and monitor their post-surgical care, here’s a list of the surgical aftercare ICD codes you may use:
- Z48.810: Encounter for surgical aftercare following surgery on the sense organs
- Z48.811: Encounter for surgical aftercare following surgery on the nervous system
- Z48.812: Encounter for surgical aftercare following surgery on the circulatory system
- Z48.813: Encounter for surgical aftercare following surgery on the respiratory system
- Z48.814: Encounter for surgical aftercare following surgery on the teeth or oral cavity
- Z48.815: Encounter for surgical aftercare following surgery on the digestive system
- Z48.816: Encounter for surgical aftercare following surgery on the genitourinary system
- Z48.817: Encounter for surgical aftercare following surgery on the skin and subcutaneous tissue
- Z48.89: Encounter for other specified surgical aftercare
Which Surgical Aftercare ICD codes are Billable:
All of the aforementioned ICD codes related to surgical aftercare are billable.
Clinical Information
- Surgical aftercare is also known as postoperative care and pertains to the care one receives after a surgical procedure. The type of care a patient receives will vary depending on the surgery type and their medical history.
- Typically, surgical aftercare will include wound care and pain management from when the patient is finished with their surgery until after their discharge.
- Answering questions, providing updated instructions, and enumerating potential complications can also be considered surgical aftercare.
- Aftercare services may be provided at a hospital, a private room, or even a patient’s home.
Synonyms Include:
- Postoperative care
- Post-surgical follow-up
- Surgical wound management
- Surgical site aftercare
- Surgical recovery
Commonly asked questions
Healthcare practitioners can use a surgical aftercare ICD code if they have determined the area's location that needs postoperative care and have followed the other conditions to use any surgical aftercare ICD codes appropriately.
Yes, the surgical aftercare ICD-10 codes are billable.
It means the patient needs aftercare after their operation in a specific body area.
