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Z43 vs Z93

Z43 (Encounter for attention to artificial openings) compared with Z93 (Artificial opening status), 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. Z93 carries an Excludes1 note covering Z43: “artificial openings requiring attention or management (Z43.-)”

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

Z43Encounter for attention to artificial openingsZ93Artificial opening status
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: Z43.0, Z43.1, Z43.2, Z43.3, Z43.4

Non-billable header

Report instead: Z93.0, Z93.1, Z93.2, Z93.3, Z93.4

ClassificationZ00-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)
DefinitionEncounter for attention to artificial openings is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (Z43).Artificial opening status is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (Z93).
Includes
closure of artificial openings
passage of sounds or bougies through artificial openings
reforming artificial openings
removal of catheter from artificial openings

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources