Z51.5 Encounter for palliative care

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026. Exempt from present-on-admission (POA) reporting.

Applies from Z51 Encounter for other aftercare and medical care

Excludes1 (never code together)

• follow-up examination after treatment (Z08-Z09)

Code also

• condition requiring care

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 951 in MDC 23.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• V66.7 Encounter for palliative care

Code annotations containing back-references to Z51.5

Back-references to Z51.5

• Type 1 Excludes: Y66 Nonadministration of surgical and medical care ("palliative care (Z51.5)")

Back-references to Z51

• Type 1 Excludes: Z08 Encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment for malignant neoplasm ("aftercare following medical care (Z43-Z49, Z51)")
• Type 1 Excludes: Z09 Encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment for conditions other than malignant neoplasm ("aftercare following medical care (Z43-Z49, Z51)")
• Type 2 Excludes: Z98 Other postprocedural states ("aftercare (Z43-Z49, Z51)")

Diagnosis Index entries for Z51.5

• Care (of) (for) (following) › palliative
• Encounter (with health service) (for) › palliative care
• Palliative care

Nearby codes

• Z51 Encounter for other aftercare and medical care
• Z51.0 Encounter for antineoplastic radiation therapy
• Z51.1 Encounter for antineoplastic chemotherapy and immunotherapy
• Z51.11 Encounter for antineoplastic chemotherapy
• Z51.12 Encounter for antineoplastic immunotherapy
• Z51.5 Encounter for palliative care (this code)
• Z51.6 Encounter for desensitization to allergens
• Z51.8 Encounter for other specified aftercare
• Z51.81 Encounter for therapeutic drug level monitoring
• Z51.89 Encounter for other specified aftercare
• Z51.A Encounter for sepsis aftercare