Z79.51 — Long term (current) use of inhaled steroids
Is Z79.51 billable?
Yes — Z79.51 is billable for FY2027. Z79.51 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code at the highest level of specificity in its branch. Z79.51 may be submitted for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Z79.51 at a glance
| Code | Z79.51 |
|---|---|
| Description | Long term (current) use of inhaled steroids |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
What Medicare edits apply to Z79.51?
The Medicare Code Editor screens inpatient claims before they are grouped. These edits name Z79.51 directly.
CMS will reject this code as the principal diagnosis on an inpatient claim. It describes something other than the condition chiefly responsible for the admission.
Which MS-DRGs does Z79.51 group to?
Z79.51 sits in MDC 23 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 949Aftercare with CC/MCCmedical
- 950Aftercare without CC/MCCmedical
How is Z79.51 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to Z79.51. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Long-term › steroids › inhaled (current) (prophylactic) drug therapy (use of)
- Therapy › drug, long-term › steroids › inhaled
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Z79
The conditions below are not part of Z79.51, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, Z79.51 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Code also — inherited from Z77-Z99
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether Z79.51 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- any follow-up examination (Z08-Z09)
Code also — inherited from Z79
Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether Z79.51 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.
- any therapeutic drug level monitoring (Z51.81)
How long has Z79.51 existed?
Z79.51 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.