Z53 – Persons encountering health services for specific procedures and treatment, not carried out

ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code · Encounters for other specific health care

Non-billable header

ICD-10-CM code Z53

Code: Z53 (claims format: Z53)
Description: Persons encountering health services for specific procedures and treatment, not carried out
Short description: Persons encntr hlth serv for spec proc & trtmt, not crd out
Billable: No – use a more specific code below
Valid for: Dates of service October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 (FY2027)
Chapter: 21. Factors influencing health status and contact with health services (Z00-Z99)
Block: Z40-Z53 Encounters for other specific health care

Billable codes under Z53

Z53 is a header code and cannot be used on claims. Choose the most specific code:

Z53.0 – Procedure and treatment not carried out because of contraindicationHeader (more codes below)
Z53.1 – Procedure and treatment not carried out because of patient's decision for reasons of belief and group pressureBillable
Z53.2 – Procedure and treatment not carried out because of patient's decision for other and unspecified reasonsHeader (more codes below)
Z53.3 – Procedure converted to open procedureHeader (more codes below)
Z53.8 – Procedure and treatment not carried out for other reasonsBillable
Z53.9 – Procedure and treatment not carried out, unspecified reasonBillable

Notes inherited from parent codes

Instructional notes at a category or block level apply to every code below it.

Block Z40-Z53

Applicable to:

Categories Z40-Z53 are intended for use to indicate a reason for care. They may be used for patients who have already been treated for a disease or injury, but who are receiving aftercare or prophylactic care, or care to consolidate the treatment, or to deal with a residual state

Excludes2 (not included here):

follow-up examination for medical surveillance after treatment (Z08-Z09)

Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-10 code Z53?

Z53 is the ICD-10-CM code for persons encountering health services for specific procedures and treatment, not carried out, in the block Z40-Z53 (Encounters for other specific health care).

Is Z53 a billable code?

No. Z53 is a header code with more specific child codes; report one of the billable codes listed above.

Source: CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM FY2027 code files, tabular list and index. Reference only – code assignment must follow the official ICD-10-CM guidelines and documentation in the medical record.