Z04.81: Encounter for examination and observation of victim following forced sexual exploitation

Z04.81, encounter for examination and observation of victim following forced sexual exploitation, is listed as a covered diagnosis in 4 Medicare billing and coding articles that apply to 2 HCPCS Level II codes, including U0002 (2019-ncov coronavirus, sars-cov-2/2019-ncov (covid-19)…), U0001 (Cdc 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) real-time rt-pcr…). The articles come from 4 Medicare contractors. A listed diagnosis supports medical necessity only; coverage still depends on the LCD's criteria and on documentation in the medical record.

HCPCS Level II codes with Z04.81 as a covered diagnosis

CodeDescriptionMedicare coverageDMEPOS fee 2026 (state range)Articles listing it
U00022019-ncov coronavirus, sars-cov-2/2019-ncov (covid-19), any technique, multiple types or subtypes (includes all targets), non-cdcCarrier judgment—4
U0001Cdc 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) real-time rt-pcr diagnostic panelCarrier judgment—4

Medicare policy articles listing Z04.81

A diagnosis listed as covered in a billing and coding article supports medical necessity for the article's codes; it does not guarantee payment. Coverage depends on the LCD's criteria, the contractor's jurisdiction and documentation in the medical record.

Other Z04 diagnoses (Encounter for examination and observation for other reasons)

Frequently asked questions

Does Medicare cover Z04.81 (Encounter for examination and observation of victim…)?

Medicare covers items and services, not diagnoses. 4 Medicare billing and coding articles list Z04.81 as a covered diagnosis for 2 HCPCS Level II codes: the diagnosis can support medical necessity for those codes, but payment still depends on the LCD's coverage criteria and the medical record.

Which HCPCS codes can be billed with ICD-10 Z04.81?

The Level II codes from the policies most specific to this diagnosis are U0002 (2019-ncov coronavirus, sars-cov-2/2019-ncov (covid-19)…, 4 articles); U0001 (Cdc 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) real-time rt-pcr…, 4 articles). Code choice depends on the item supplied; check each code's descriptor.

Which Medicare policy articles list Z04.81?

A58710 (Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing); A58720 (Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing); A58761 (Billing and Coding: MolDX: Molecular Syndromic Panels for Infectious Disease Pathogen Identification Testing), and 1 more article.

What is ICD-10-CM code Z04.81?

Z04.81 is the ICD-10-CM code for encounter for examination and observation of victim following forced sexual exploitation, in category Z04 (Encounter for examination and observation for other reasons), chapter 22: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services.

Next steps

Sources: CMS Medicare Coverage Database billing and coding articles (covered ICD-10 code lists and HCPCS links); ICD-10-CM FY2026; CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule 2026 (non-rural state fees). Not billing or legal advice.

Chapter 22: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services · All diagnoses · HCPCS lookup