Z12UpcomingCategory · further specificity required

Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasms

Code-level instructions

Use additional code

code to identify any family history of malignant neoplasm (Z80.-)

Excludes 1

encounter for diagnostic examination-code to sign or symptom

Excludes 2 · 1

Z00-Z13 · Persons encountering health services for examinations (Z00-Z13)

Excludes 2

examinations related to pregnancy and reproduction (Z30-Z36, Z39.-)

More specific codes

Claims & coverage

When ICD-10-CM is required

For US diagnosis claims covered by HIPAA, ICD-10-CM is required from October 1, 2015.

Use the service date for outpatient/professional claims and the discharge date for hospital inpatient claims. Earlier encounters use ICD-9-CM; each individual code must also be valid for the applicable date.

Official coding guidelines → · CMS ↗

First observed · 2015-10-01

Code history

Latest recorded change · FY2026

ChangedUnchanged

FY2026

Effective from 2025-10-01

Inherited rules changed

Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasms

Category — select a more specific code

CDC/NCHS · FY2026

All editions (19)

All editions	Effective from	Code history
FY2016	2015-10-01	First observed
FY2017	2016-10-01	No tabular change
FY2018	2017-10-01	No tabular change
FY2019	2018-10-01	No tabular change
FY2020	2019-10-01	No tabular change
FY2020 · April	2020-04-01	No tabular change
FY2021	2020-10-01	No tabular change
FY2021 · 01-01	2021-01-01	No tabular change
FY2022	2021-10-01	No tabular change
FY2022 · 04-01	2022-04-01	No tabular change
FY2023	2022-10-01	No tabular change
FY2023 · 04-01	2023-04-01	No tabular change
FY2024	2023-10-01	No tabular change
FY2024 · 04-01	2024-04-01	No tabular change
FY2025	2024-10-01	No tabular change
FY2025 · 04-01	2025-04-01	No tabular change
FY2026	2025-10-01	Inherited rules changed
FY2026 · April	2026-04-01	No tabular change
FY2027	2026-10-01	No tabular change

Code-level instructions

Inclusion terms

Screening is the testing for disease or disease precursors in asymptomatic individuals so that early detection and treatment can be provided for those who test positive for the disease.

Excludes 1

encounter for diagnostic examination-code to sign or symptom

Use additional code

code to identify any family history of malignant neoplasm (Z80.-)

Inherited instructions

Chapters 21 · Factors influencing health status and contact with health services (Z00-Z99)

Note

Z codes represent reasons for encounters. A corresponding procedure code must accompany a Z code if a procedure is performed. Categories Z00-Z99 are provided for occasions when circumstances other than a disease, injury or external cause classifiable to categories A00-Y89 are recorded as 'diagnoses' or 'problems'. This can arise in two main ways:
(a) When a person who may or may not be sick encounters the health services for some specific purpose, such as to receive limited care or service for a current condition, to donate an organ or tissue, to receive prophylactic vaccination (immunization), or to discuss a problem which is in itself not a disease or injury.
(b) When some circumstance or problem is present which influences the person's health status but is not in itself a current illness or injury.

Z00-Z13 · Persons encountering health services for examinations (Z00-Z13)

Excludes 2

examinations related to pregnancy and reproduction (Z30-Z36, Z39.-)

Note

Nonspecific abnormal findings disclosed at the time of these examinations are classified to categories R70-R94.

More specific codes

Related codes

Official titles and instructions are preserved in their source language. Official sources ↗

References from other codes (1)

Z13.8 · Encounter for screening for other specified diseases and disorders

Excludes 2 · screening for malignant neoplasms (Z12.-)