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Z03.822 ICD-10-CM Code: Encounter for observation for suspected aspirated (inhaled) foreign body ruled out

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43.0, 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.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Encounter for observation for suspected aspirated (inhaled) foreign body ruled out is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (Z03.822).

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for Z03.822 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

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).

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

Frequently Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on Z03.822 name these codes. Each comparison page covers when the two can — or must not — be reported together.

Change history

  • FY2021 — 2020-10-01
    Added to the code set
    Encounter for observation for suspected aspirated (inhaled) foreign body ruled out
    FY2021 changes

Verify Before Coding

  • Principal-diagnosis restriction. The Medicare Code Editor lists this code as unacceptable as a principal diagnosis: it describes a circumstance influencing health status rather than a current illness or injury being treated. It is valid as a secondary diagnosis.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim.

Contextual Map

Every relationship of Z03.822 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.

Hierarchy

  • Z00-Z99 — Chapter 21: Factors Influencing Health Status and Contact with Health Services (Z00-Z99) (Z00-Z99) [Hierarchy]
  • Z00-Z13 — Persons encountering health services for examinations [Hierarchy]

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

  • Z01 — Encounter for other special examination without complaint, suspected or reported diagnosis [Excludes1](via Z03.-): “encounter for examination for suspected conditions, proven not to exist (Z03.-)” · check together
  • Z71.1 — Person with feared health complaint in whom no diagnosis is made [Excludes1](via Z03.-): “medical observation for suspected diseases and conditions proven not to exist (Z03.-)” · check together

Clinical classification (CCSR)

  • FAC003 — Encounter for observation and examination for conditions ruled out (excludes infectious disease, neoplasm, mental disorders) [CCSR]

Potential MS-DRG

  • DRG 951 — OTHER FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH STATUS [MS-DRG]: “OTHER FACTORS INFLUENCING HEALTH STATUS (MDC 23)”

MDC crossing · procedures (1235)

  • 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.”
  • F003GKZ — Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Audiovisual Equipment [Same-MDC procedure]: “Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Audiovisual Equipment — grouped in MDC 23, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • F003GMZ — Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Augmentative / Alternative Communication Equipment [Same-MDC procedure]: “Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Augmentative / Alternative Communication Equipment — grouped in MDC 23, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • F003GPZ — Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Computer [Same-MDC procedure]: “Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Computer — grouped in MDC 23, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • F003GYZ — Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Other Equipment [Same-MDC procedure]: “Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body using Other Equipment — grouped in MDC 23, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • F003GZZ — Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body [Same-MDC procedure]: “Communicative/Cognitive Integration Skills Assessment of Neurological System - Whole Body — grouped in MDC 23, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • and 1230 more

Index entries

  • Observation (following) (for) (without need for further medical care), suspected, ruled out, foreign body, aspirated (inhaled)[Index term]

Nearest codes (18)

  • Z03 — Encounter for medical observation for suspected diseases and conditions ruled out [Sibling]
  • Z03.6 — Encounter for observation for suspected toxic effect from ingested substance ruled out [Sibling]
  • Z03.7 — Encounter for suspected maternal and fetal conditions ruled out [Sibling]
  • Z03.71 — Encounter for suspected problem with amniotic cavity and membrane ruled out [Sibling]
  • Z03.72 — Encounter for suspected placental problem ruled out [Sibling]
  • Z03.73 — Encounter for suspected fetal anomaly ruled out [Sibling]
  • Z03.74 — Encounter for suspected problem with fetal growth ruled out [Sibling]
  • Z03.75 — Encounter for suspected cervical shortening ruled out [Sibling]
  • and 10 more

Change history

  • FY2021 — Added to the code set [Change history]

Referenced by Other Codes

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):FAC003 — Encounter for observation and examination for conditions ruled out (excludes infectious disease, neoplasm, mental disorders) (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Potential MS-DRG Relationships (FY2026)

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.

Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes on other codes that name Z03.822 or its code family.

2 Excludes1 notes: Z01 (via Z03.-), Z71.1 (via Z03.-).

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to Z03.822 in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • Z03.79 — Encounter for other suspected maternal and fetal conditions ruled out
  • Z03.8 — Encounter for observation for other suspected diseases and conditions ruled out
  • Z03.81 — Encounter for observation for suspected exposure to biological agents ruled out
  • Z03.810 — Encounter for observation for suspected exposure to anthrax ruled out
  • Z03.818 — Encounter for observation for suspected exposure to other biological agents ruled out
  • Z03.82 — Encounter for observation for suspected foreign body ruled out
  • Z03.821 — Encounter for observation for suspected ingested foreign body ruled out
  • Z03.823 — Encounter for observation for suspected inserted (injected) foreign body ruled out
  • Z03.83 — Encounter for observation for suspected conditions related to home physiologic monitoring device ruled out
  • Z03.89 — Encounter for observation for other suspected diseases and conditions ruled out

View all codes in the Z03 family

Indexed Clinical Terms (1)

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code.

  • Observation (following) (for) (without need for further medical care), suspected, ruled out, foreign body, aspirated (inhaled)