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Z63.3 vs Z63.4

Z63.3 (Absence of family member) compared with Z63.4 (Disappearance and death of family member), 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. Z63.3 carries an Excludes1 note covering Z63.4: “absence of family member due to disappearance and death (Z63.4)”

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

Z63.3Absence of family memberZ63.4Disappearance and death of family member
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: Z63.31, Z63.32

Billable
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)
DefinitionAbsence of family member is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (Z63.3).Disappearance and death of family member is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (Z63.4).
Includes
Assumed death of family member
Bereavement

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