Z63.4 Disappearance and death of family member

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

Applicable to

• Assumed death of family member
• Bereavement

Applies from Z63 Other problems related to primary support group, including family circumstances

Excludes2 (not included here)

• maltreatment syndrome (T74.-, T76)
• parent-child problems (Z62.-)
• problems related to negative life events in childhood (Z62.-)
• problems related to upbringing (Z62.-)

MS-DRG index

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

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• V61.07 Family disruption due to death of family member (approximate)
• V61.8 Other specified family circumstances (approximate)
• V62.82 Bereavement, uncomplicated (approximate)

Medicare Code Edits (MCE v43.1 (April 2026))

• Unacceptable principal diagnosis: These codes describe a circumstance which influences care but is not a current illness or injury, or capture only an underlying condition, and are unacceptable as principal diagnosis.

Code annotations containing back-references to Z63.4

Back-references to Z63.4

• Code Also: Z62.8 Other specified problems related to upbringing ("disappearance and death of family member (Z63.4)")
• Type 1 Excludes: Z63.3 Absence of family member ("absence of family member due to disappearance and death (Z63.4)")

Back-references to Z63

• Type 2 Excludes: Z72 Problems related to lifestyle ("problems related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances (Z55-Z65)")
• Type 2 Excludes: Z73 Problems related to life management difficulty ("problems related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances (Z55-Z65)")

Diagnosis Index entries for Z63.4

• Bereavement (uncomplicated)
• Death (cause unknown) (of) (unexplained) (unspecified cause) › family member (assumed)
• Disappearance of family member
• Disruption (of) › family › due to › bereavement
• Disruption (of) › family › due to › death (assumed) or disappearance of family member
• Loss (of) › parent in childhood

Nearby codes

• Z63.0 Problems in relationship with spouse or partner
• Z63.1 Problems in relationship with in-laws
• Z63.3 Absence of family member
• Z63.31 Absence of family member due to military deployment
• Z63.32 Other absence of family member
• Z63.4 Disappearance and death of family member (this code)
• Z63.5 Disruption of family by separation and divorce
• Z63.6 Dependent relative needing care at home
• Z63.7 Other stressful life events affecting family and household
• Z63.71 Stress on family due to return of family member from military deployment
• Z63.72 Alcoholism and drug addiction in family