Z71.6 Tobacco abuse counseling

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

Use additional code

• code for nicotine dependence (F17.-)

Applies from Z71 Persons encountering health services for other counseling and medical advice, not elsewhere classified

Excludes2 (not included here)

• contraceptive or procreation counseling (Z30-Z31)
• sex counseling (Z70.-)

MS-DRG index

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

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• V65.42 Counseling on substance use and abuse (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.

Diagnosis Index entries for Z71.6

• Counseling (for) › substance abuse › tobacco
• Counseling (for) › tobacco use
• Dependence (on) (syndrome) › tobacco › counseling and surveillance
• Tobacco (nicotine) › use › counseling and surveillance

Nearby codes

• Z71.41 Alcohol abuse counseling and surveillance of alcoholic
• Z71.42 Counseling for family member of alcoholic
• Z71.5 Drug abuse counseling and surveillance
• Z71.51 Drug abuse counseling and surveillance of drug abuser
• Z71.52 Counseling for family member of drug abuser
• Z71.6 Tobacco abuse counseling (this code)
• Z71.7 Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] counseling
• Z71.8 Other specified counseling
• Z71.81 Spiritual or religious counseling
• Z71.82 Exercise counseling
• Z71.83 Encounter for nonprocreative genetic counseling