Z13.820 – Encounter for screening for osteoporosis

Z13.820 Diagnosis Code: Encounter for screening for osteoporosis

The Z13.820 is an ICD code included in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM, for short), and it is used to designate “Encounter for screening for osteoporosis.”

Based on the “screening” in the name of this ICD-10 code, you’re probably wondering: “Can I really consider this as a diagnosis?”

To answer your question, no, this is not a diagnosis. This code is considered to be unacceptable as a principal diagnosis. The reason for this is that, at the moment, the circumstance that a patient is undergoing is affecting their health, however, it is not because of a current illness or injury. In the context of this ICD-10 code, the cause could be due to osteoporosis.

Is the Z13.820 billable?

Yes, the Z13.820 ICD-10 code is billable and can be used to designate a patient for reimbursement purposes.

Z13.820 clinical information

The Z13.820 ICD-10 code is used for patients who undergo screening for osteoporosis, which is a bone condition characterized by the gradual embrittling of the bones to the point that they become so weak that simply bending over can fracture them.

Those who go to hospitals or clinics to get screened for osteoporosis will undergo Bone Density Tests. These tests could be any of the following:

• Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
• Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT)
• Biomechanical Computed Tomography (BCT)
• Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry (REMS)

If a person is diagnosed with osteoporosis after the tests, treatment will likely include Bisphosphonates like Alendronate and Risedronate, bone-building drugs like Teriparatide and Abaloparatide, exercise, and having a healthy diet that includes getting enough calcium and vitamin D.

Do note that this ICD-10 code is only for screening. This doesn’t mean that the person actually has osteoporosis.

Z13.820 synonyms include

• Disuse osteoporosis
• Fracture of left rib
• Fracture of right rib
• Osteoporosis of disuse with pathological fracture
• Osteoporotic fracture
• Osteoporotic fracture of left rib
• Osteoporotic fracture of right rib

Other ICD-10 codes commonly used for osteoporosis:

• M80 - Osteoporosis with current pathological fracture
• M80.0 - Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture
• M80.00 - Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, unspecified site
• M80.00XA - Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, unspecified site, initial encounter for fracture
• M80.00XD - Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, unspecified site, subsequent encounter for fracture with routine healing
• M80.00XG - Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, unspecified site, subsequent encounter for fracture with delayed healing
• M80.00XK - Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, unspecified site, subsequent encounter for fracture with nonunion
• M80.00XP - Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, unspecified site, subsequent encounter for fracture with malunion
• M80.00XS - Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, unspecified site, sequela
• M80.011A - Age-related osteoporosis with current pathological fracture, right shoulder, initial encounter for fracture