Z44.20 — Encounter for fitting and adjustment of artificial eye, unspecified
Is Z44.20 billable?
Yes, but Z44.20 is an unspecified code. Z44.20 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, Z44.20 is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting Z44.20 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
Z44.20 at a glance
| Code | Z44.20 |
|---|---|
| Description | Encounter for fitting and adjustment of artificial eye, unspecified |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does Z44.20 group to?
Z44.20 sits in MDC 23 and helps define the logic of 1 MS-DRG (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 951Other Factors Influencing Health Statusmedical
How is Z44.20 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under Z44.2, the nearest indexed parent of Z44.20. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Fitting › artificial › eye (and adjustment) (of)
- Fitting › prosthesis › eye (and adjustment) (of)
- Removal › artificial › eye (from) (of)
- Admission › adjustment › artificial › eye (for)
- Admission › adjustment › prosthesis › eye (for)
- Admission › fitting › artificial › eye (for)
- Admission › fitting › prosthesis › eye (for)
- Encounter › removal › artificial › eye (with health service) (for)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from Z44
The conditions below can never be reported together with Z44.20 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- malfunction or other complications of device - see Alphabetical Index
- presence of prosthetic device (Z97.-)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from Z44.2
The conditions below can never be reported together with Z44.20 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- mechanical complication of ocular prosthesis (T85.3)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Z40-Z53
The conditions below are not part of Z44.20, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, Z44.20 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- follow-up examination for medical surveillance after treatment (Z08-Z09)
How long has Z44.20 existed?
Z44.20 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.