Z76.5 Malingerer [conscious simulation]

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

Applicable to

• Person feigning illness (with obvious motivation)

Excludes1 (never code together)

• factitious disorder (F68.1-, F68.A)
• peregrinating patient (F68.1-)

MS-DRG index

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

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• V65.2 Person feigning illness

Code annotations containing back-references to Z76.5

Back-references to Z76.5

• Type 2 Excludes: F44 Dissociative and conversion disorders ("malingering [conscious simulation] (Z76.5)")
• Type 2 Excludes: F45 Somatoform disorders ("malingering [conscious simulation] (Z76.5)")
• Type 2 Excludes: F68.1 Factitious disorder imposed on self ("person feigning illness (with obvious motivation) (Z76.5)")

Diagnosis Index entries for Z76.5

• Behavior › drug seeking
• Conscious simulation (of illness)
• Disorder (of) › feigned (with obvious motivation)
• Feigned illness
• Malingerer, malingering
• Person (with) › feigning illness
• Problem (with) (related to) › behavioral (adult) › drug seeking
• Simulation, conscious (of illness)

Nearby codes

• Z76.0 Encounter for issue of repeat prescription
• Z76.1 Encounter for health supervision and care of foundling
• Z76.2 Encounter for health supervision and care of other healthy infant and child
• Z76.3 Healthy person accompanying sick person
• Z76.4 Other boarder to healthcare facility
• Z76.5 Malingerer [conscious simulation] (this code)
• Z76.8 Persons encountering health services in other specified circumstances
• Z76.81 Expectant parent(s) prebirth pediatrician visit
• Z76.82 Awaiting organ transplant status
• Z76.89 Persons encountering health services in other specified circumstances