Z01.42 ICD-10-CM Code: Encounter for cervical smear to confirm findings of recent normal smear following initial abnormal smear
Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.
Coding at a Glance
- Tabular directives
- 1 inclusion term · 3 Excludes1 · 5 Excludes2
Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)
Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.
MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43, Appendix B.
- MS-DRG 951 — OTHER FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH STATUS (MDC 23)
A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.
Coding instructions
Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for Z01.42 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.
Notes without a marker are published on Z01.42 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.
Includes
Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.
- routine examination of specific system
Source: inherited from Z01
Excludes1 — Not Coded Here
Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
- encounter for examination for administrative purposes (Z02.-) Compare Z01.42 vs Z02 →
- encounter for examination for suspected conditions, proven not to exist (Z03.-) Compare Z01.42 vs Z03 →
- encounter for laboratory, radiologic and imaging examinations for sign(s) and symptom(s) - code to the sign(s) or symptom(s)
Source: inherited from Z01
Excludes2 — Not Included Here
Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.
- pregnancy examination or test (Z32.0-) inherited from Z01.4Compare Z01.42 vs Z32.0 →
- routine examination for contraceptive maintenance (Z30.4-) inherited from Z01.4Compare Z01.42 vs Z30.4 →
- encounter for laboratory and radiologic examinations as a component of general medical examinations (Z00.0-) inherited from Z01Compare Z01.42 vs Z00.0 →
- screening examinations (Z11-Z13) inherited from Z01Compare Z01.42 vs Z11 →
- examinations related to pregnancy and reproduction (Z30-Z36, Z39.-) inherited from Z00-Z13Compare Z01.42 vs Z30 →
Coder workflow for Z01.42
MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record
Before you code Z01.42
- Confirm the reason for the encounter this Z code records: an examination or encounter with no complaint or diagnosis. Check whether the code may be reported as first-listed or principal — some Z codes are limited to one position — and do not report a history or status code for a condition documented as current. Z code categories and their reporting positions (Guidelines I.C.21.c, I.C.21.c.15).
- Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with Z01.42. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).
Choose the right path
- Does the documentation support a condition named in Z01.42’s Excludes1 note?
Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
No → Continue.
Consider Z01.42. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.
Documentation check
- The provider’s diagnostic statement
- Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).
- The reason for the encounter
- Whether the code records the encounter’s purpose, a status, or a history — and whether it may be first-listed (Guidelines I.C.21.c).
Official instructions as workflow
Excludes1 — check before selecting Z01.42(3 notes)
Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with Z01.42: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.
See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a
Excludes2 — not part of Z01.42(5 notes)
Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in Z01.42. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.
CompareZ32.0, Z30.4, Z00.0, Z39
See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b
Coding decision scenarios
Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases
Documentation: Both the condition Z01.42 describes and a condition named in its Excludes1 note are documented for the same encounter.
Coding question: Can both codes be reported?
Path: Review the Excludes1 note and the excluded code, and look for a provider statement on whether the two conditions are related.
Reason: Excludes1 means the two are not coded together; the exception is when the record shows the conditions are unrelated to each other (Guidelines I.A.12.a).
Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.
Code Overview
MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.
Indexed Clinical Terms (2)
Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing
Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.
Official Coding Guidelines
Official source data — quoted verbatim from the CMS/NCHS Official Guidelines
Official source data — quoted verbatim from the CMS/NCHS Official Guidelines
Verbatim excerpts from the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (CMS/NCHS) that govern this code.
Chapter 21: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services (Z00-Z99)
The Z codes/categories for routine and administrative examinations: Z00 Encounter for general examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis Z01 Encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis
Chapter 21: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services (Z00-Z99)
15) Z Codes That May Only be Principal/First-Listed Diagnosis The following Z codes/subcategories/categories may only be reported as the principal/first-listed diagnosis, except when there are multiple encounters on the same day and the medical records for the encounters are combined: Z00 Encounter for general examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis Except: Z00.6 Z01 Encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis Z02 Encounter for administrative examination Z04 Encounter for examination and observation for other reasons Z33.2 Encounter for elective termination of pregnancy
Verify Before Coding
- No Medicare Code Editor or MS-DRG Definitions Manual restrictions apply to this code.
From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.
Relationships & Classification
MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets
Other codes that name Z01.42 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.
Referenced by 2 Excludes1 notes: Z02.7 — Encounter for issue of medical certificate (via Z01.-), Z12.4 — Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of cervix (via Z01.4.-).
These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.
Referenced by 1 Excludes2 note: Z71.84 — Encounter for health counseling related to travel (via Z01.-).
These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.
MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)
Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.
Not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity.
Named in the grouper logic of 1 MS-DRG: DRG 951 (MDC 23).
From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.
Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):FAC014 — Medical examination/evaluation (default).
Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Related Codes
Same clinical category (CCSR)
AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Medical examination/evaluation).
Z01.020 — Encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening without abnormal findings, Z01.021 — Encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening with abnormal findings, Z01.10 — Encounter for examination of ears and hearing without abnormal findings, Z01.110 — Encounter for hearing examination following failed hearing screening, Z01.118 — Encounter for examination of ears and hearing with other abnormal findings, Z01.12 — Encounter for hearing conservation and treatment, Z01.20 — Encounter for dental examination and cleaning without abnormal findings, Z01.21 — Encounter for dental examination and cleaning with abnormal findings, Z01.30 — Encounter for examination of blood pressure without abnormal findings, Z01.31 — Encounter for examination of blood pressure with abnormal findings, Z01.411 — Encounter for gynecological examination (general) (routine) with abnormal findings, Z01.419 — Encounter for gynecological examination (general) (routine) without abnormal findings, Z01.810 — Encounter for preprocedural cardiovascular examination, Z01.811 — Encounter for preprocedural respiratory examination, Z01.812 — Encounter for preprocedural laboratory examination, Z01.818 — Encounter for other preprocedural examination, Z01.82 — Encounter for allergy testing, Z01.83 — Encounter for blood typing, Z01.84 — Encounter for antibody response examination, Z01.89 — Encounter for other specified special examinations, +15 more
Same Index main term, other category
The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main terms “Examination”, “Encounter”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.
O82 — Encounter for cesarean delivery without indication (delivery, full-term, uncomplicated, cesarean, without indication), Z00.00 — Encounter for general adult medical examination without abnormal findings, Z00.01 — Encounter for general adult medical examination with abnormal findings (with abnormal findings), Z00.121 — Encounter for routine child health examination with abnormal findings (child, with abnormal findings), Z00.129 — Encounter for routine child health examination without abnormal findings (child), Z00.2 — Encounter for examination for period of rapid growth in childhood (period of rapid growth in childhood), Z00.3 — Encounter for examination for adolescent development state (adolescent), Z00.5 — Encounter for examination of potential donor of organ and tissue (donor), Z00.6 — Encounter for examination for normal comparison and control in clinical research program (medical, clinical research, normal subject), Z00.8 — Encounter for other general examination (psychiatric NEC), Z02.0 — Encounter for examination for admission to educational institution (medical, admission to, school), Z02.1 — Encounter for pre-employment examination (medical, pre-employment), Z02.2 — Encounter for examination for admission to residential institution (medical, admission to, old age home), Z02.3 — Encounter for examination for recruitment to armed forces (medical, admission to, armed forces), Z02.4 — Encounter for examination for driving license (medical, driving license), Z02.5 — Encounter for examination for participation in sport (physical, sports), Z02.6 — Encounter for examination for insurance purposes (medical, insurance purposes), Z02.71 — Encounter for disability determination (administrative purpose only, examination for, disability determination), Z02.79 — Encounter for issue of other medical certificate (administrative purpose only, examination for, medical certificate NEC), Z02.81 — Encounter for paternity testing (medical, paternity testing), +124 more
Contextual Map
Every relationship of Z01.42 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.
Run Z01.42 with these 3 related codes in Claim Check
Hierarchy
- Z00-Z99 — Chapter 21: Factors Influencing Health Status and Contact with Health Services (Z00-Z99) (Z00-Z99)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
- Z00-Z13 — Persons encountering health services for examinations[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
Referenced by Excludes1 notes
- Z02.7 — Encounter for issue of medical certificate[Excludes1](via Z01.-): “encounter for general medical examination (Z00-Z01, Z02.0-Z02.6, Z02.8-Z02.9)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
- Z12.4 — Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of cervix[Excludes1](via Z01.4.-): “when screening is part of general gynecological examination (Z01.4-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
Referenced by Excludes2 notes
- Z71.84 — Encounter for health counseling related to travel[Excludes2](via Z01.-): “encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis (Z01.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
Clinical classification (CCSR)
- FAC014 — Medical examination/evaluation[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)
MS-DRG Grouper
- DRG 951 — OTHER FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH STATUS[MS-DRG]: “OTHER FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH STATUS (MDC 23)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
MDC crossing
- MDC 23 — Factors Influencing Health Status and Other Contacts with Health Services[MDC crossing]: “Factors Influencing Health Status and Other Contacts with Health Services — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 1,235 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026
Index entries
- Encounter (with health service) (for), repeat cervical smear to confirm findings of recent normal smear following initial abnormal smear[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
- Examination (for) (following) (general) (of) (routine), repeat cervical smear to confirm findings of recent normal smear following initial abnormal smear[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
Nearest codes (33)
- Z01 — Encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
- Z01.0 — Encounter for examination of eyes and vision[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
- Z01.00 — Encounter for examination of eyes and vision without abnormal findings[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
- Z01.01 — Encounter for examination of eyes and vision with abnormal findings[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
- Z01.02 — Encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
- Z01.020 — Encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening without abnormal findings[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
- Z01.021 — Encounter for examination of eyes and vision following failed vision screening with abnormal findings[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
- Z01.1 — Encounter for examination of ears and hearing[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
- and 25 more
Change history
- FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016
Sources for this page
Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.
- Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data
- CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
- Coding guidelines Official source data
- ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (FY2026), quoted by section Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
- Claim edits Official source data
- CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
- Inpatient payment groups Official source data
- CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v43 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
- Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data
- CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
- Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship
- Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears
- Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation
- Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.
Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates
Change history
- FY2016 — October 1, 2015In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoptionEncounter for cervical smear to confirm findings of recent normal smear following initial abnormal smear
No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026), and none are recorded for this code. Note changes are tracked from FY2027 only.
Nearest Codes in This Family
Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to Z01.42 in its code family, with their registry titles.
- Z01.31 — Encounter for examination of blood pressure with abnormal findings
- Z01.4 — Encounter for gynecological examination
- Z01.41 — Encounter for routine gynecological examination
- Z01.411 — Encounter for gynecological examination (general) (routine) with abnormal findings
- Z01.419 — Encounter for gynecological examination (general) (routine) without abnormal findings
- Z01.8 — Encounter for other specified special examinations
- Z01.81 — Encounter for preprocedural examinations
- Z01.810 — Encounter for preprocedural cardiovascular examination
- Z01.811 — Encounter for preprocedural respiratory examination
- Z01.812 — Encounter for preprocedural laboratory examination