Z03.822 vs Z77
Z03.822 (Encounter for observation for suspected aspirated (inhaled) foreign body ruled out) compared with Z77 (Other contact with and (suspected) exposures hazardous to health), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.
Can these codes be reported together?
No — do not report together. Z03.822 carries an Excludes1 note covering Z77: “contact with and (suspected) exposures hazardous to health (Z77.-)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
Side by side
| Z03.822Encounter for observation for suspected aspirated (inhaled) foreign body ruled out | Z77Other contact with and (suspected) exposures hazardous to health | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Non-billable header |
| Classification | Z00-Z99 — Factors Influencing Health Status and Contact with Health Services (Z00-Z99) | Z00-Z99 — Factors Influencing Health Status and Contact with Health Services (Z00-Z99) |
| Definition | Encounter for observation for suspected aspirated (inhaled) foreign body ruled out is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (Z03.822). | Other contact with and (suspected) exposures hazardous to health is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (Z77). |
| Includes | — | contact with and (suspected) exposures to potential hazards to health |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources