Z86.74: Personal history of sudden cardiac arrest

Z86.74, personal history of sudden cardiac arrest, is listed as a covered diagnosis in 4 Medicare billing and coding articles that apply to 27 HCPCS Level II codes, including C7539 (Insertion of new or replacement of permanent pacemaker…), C7538 (Insertion of new or replacement of permanent pacemaker…), C7540 (Removal of permanent pacemaker pulse generator with…). 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 Z86.74 as a covered diagnosis

CodeDescriptionMedicare coverageDMEPOS fee 2026 (state range)Articles listing it
C7539Insertion of new or replacement of permanent pacemaker with atrial and ventricular transvenous electrode(s), with insertion of pacing electrode, cardiac venous system, for left ventricular pacing, at time of insertion of implantable defibrillator or pacemaker pulse generator (eg, for upgrade to dual chamber system)Special coverage instructions apply—1
C7538Insertion of new or replacement of permanent pacemaker with ventricular transvenous electrode(s), with insertion of pacing electrode, cardiac venous system, for left ventricular pacing, at time of insertion of implantable defibrillator or pacemaker pulse generator (e.g., for upgrade to dual chamber system)Special coverage instructions apply—1
C7540Removal of permanent pacemaker pulse generator with replacement of pacemaker pulse generator, dual lead system, with insertion of pacing electrode, cardiac venous system, for left ventricular pacing, at time of insertion of implantable defibrillator or pacemaker pulse generator (eg, for upgrade to dual chamber system)Carrier judgment—1
C7537Insertion of new or replacement of permanent pacemaker with atrial transvenous electrode(s), with insertion of pacing electrode, cardiac venous system, for left ventricular pacing, at time of insertion of implantable defibrillator or pacemaker pulse generator (e.g., for upgrade to dual chamber system)Special coverage instructions apply—1
G0448Insertion or replacement of a permanent pacing cardioverter-defibrillator system with transvenous lead(s), single or dual chamber with insertion of pacing electrode, cardiac venous system, for left ventricular pacingCarrier judgment—1
Q9957Injection, perflutren lipid microspheres, per mlCarrier judgment—3
Q9956Injection, octafluoropropane microspheres, per mlCarrier judgment—3
Q9955Injection, perflexane lipid microspheres, per mlCarrier judgment—3
J2785Injection, regadenoson, 0.1 mgCarrier judgment—2
J0461Injection, atropine sulfate, 0.01 mgSpecial coverage instructions apply—2
J0153Injection, adenosine, 1 mg (not to be used to report any adenosine phosphate compounds)Special coverage instructions apply—2
J1250Injection, dobutamine hydrochloride, per 250 mgSpecial coverage instructions apply—2
J0280Injection, aminophyllin, up to 250 mgSpecial coverage instructions apply—2
J1245Injection, dipyridamole, per 10 mgSpecial coverage instructions apply—2
A9700Supply of injectable contrast material for use in echocardiography, per studySpecial coverage instructions apply—2
C8921Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, for congenital cardiac anomalies; completeSpecial coverage instructions apply—2
C8922Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, for congenital cardiac anomalies; follow-up or limited studySpecial coverage instructions apply—2
C8923Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, complete, without spectral or color doppler echocardiographySpecial coverage instructions apply—2
C8924Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, follow-up or limited studySpecial coverage instructions apply—2
C8928Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, during rest and cardiovascular stress test using treadmill, bicycle exercise and/or pharmacologically induced stress, with interpretation and reportSpecial coverage instructions apply—2
C8929Transthoracic echocardiography with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, complete, with spectral doppler echocardiography, and with color flow doppler echocardiographySpecial coverage instructions apply—2
C8930Transthoracic echocardiography, with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real-time with image documentation (2d), includes m-mode recording, when performed, during rest and cardiovascular stress test using treadmill, bicycle exercise and/or pharmacologically induced stress, with interpretation and report; including performance of continuous electrocardiographic monitoring, with physician supervisionSpecial coverage instructions apply—2
C8925Transesophageal echocardiography (tee) with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, real time with image documentation (2d) (with or without m-mode recording); including probe placement, image acquisition, interpretation and reportSpecial coverage instructions apply—1
C8926Transesophageal echocardiography (tee) with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, for congenital cardiac anomalies; including probe placement, image acquisition, interpretation and reportSpecial coverage instructions apply—1
C8927Transesophageal echocardiography (tee) with contrast, or without contrast followed by with contrast, for monitoring purposes, including probe placement, real time 2-dimensional image acquisition and interpretation leading to ongoing (continuous) assessment of (dynamically changing) cardiac pumping function and to therapeutic measures on an immediate time basisSpecial coverage instructions apply—1

2 more codes are listed. See every code with payment by region in Caduvo.

Medicare policy articles listing Z86.74

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 Z86 diagnoses (Personal history of certain other diseases)

Frequently asked questions

Does Medicare cover Z86.74 (Personal history of sudden cardiac arrest)?

Medicare covers items and services, not diagnoses. 4 Medicare billing and coding articles list Z86.74 as a covered diagnosis for 27 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 Z86.74?

The Level II codes from the policies most specific to this diagnosis are C7539 (Insertion of new or replacement of permanent pacemaker…, 1 article); C7538 (Insertion of new or replacement of permanent pacemaker…, 1 article); C7540 (Removal of permanent pacemaker pulse generator with…, 1 article); C7537 (Insertion of new or replacement of permanent pacemaker…, 1 article); G0448 (Insertion or replacement of a permanent pacing…, 1 article). Code choice depends on the item supplied; check each code's descriptor.

Which Medicare policy articles list Z86.74?

A56391 (Billing and Coding: Implantable Automatic Defibrillators); A56505 (Billing and Coding: Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE)); A57306 (Billing and Coding: Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)), and 1 more article.

What is ICD-10-CM code Z86.74?

Z86.74 is the ICD-10-CM code for personal history of sudden cardiac arrest, in category Z86 (Personal history of certain other diseases), 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