New Z Code Infographic Now Available from CMS

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) released a new Z code infographic entitled: Improving the Collection of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Data with ICD-10-CM Z Codes (2023). This resource aims to assist providers with understanding and using Z codes to improve the quality and collection of health equity data. Using social determinants of health, Z codes can enhance quality improvement activities, track factors that influence people’s health, and provide further insight into existing health inequities.

Z codes are a set of ICD-10-CM codes used to report social, economic, and environmental determinants known to affect health and health-related outcomes. Nine broad categories of Z codes represent various hazardous socioeconomic, and environmental conditions. Z codes can be used in any health setting and by any provider as a tool for identifying a range of issues related to education and literacy, employment, housing, ability to obtain adequate amounts of food or safe drinking water, and occupational exposure to toxic agents, dust, or radiation.

Looking for more information about Z codes? Review the journey map: Using SDOH Z Codes Can Enhance Your Quality Improvement Initiatives, which provides step-by-step instructions for healthcare professionals on how to use Z codes.

For more CMS OMH health equity-focused resources, visit: go.cms.gov/omh.

Resources

• Check out the Z code infographic: Improving the Collection of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Data with ICD-10-CM Z Codes (2023).
• Review the journey map: Using SDOH Z Codes Can Enhance Your Quality Improvement Initiatives.
• Read this Data Highlight from CMS OMH on Z code usage.
• Visit the CDC website for more information on Z codes and other health equity initiatives. Use the CDC National Center for Health Statistics ICD-10-CM Browser tool to search for all the current Z codes.
• Join the public process for SDOH code development and approval through the ICD-10-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee.

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