Z12.11: Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of colon
Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2027
What ICD-10-CM says
Includes
- Encounter for screening colonoscopy NOS
What Z12.11 covers
Z12.11 is for an encounter to screen for colon cancer in a patient with no related signs or symptoms. The tabular includes encounter for screening colonoscopy NOS here.
Gastroenterology, primary care and endoscopy centers use it. The siblings cover rectum (Z12.12), small intestine (Z12.13) and intestinal tract, unspecified (Z12.10). A colonoscopy done because of symptoms such as bleeding is diagnostic and is coded to the symptom.
Billing and coding notes
When the screening finds something, the guidelines say the finding may be coded as an additional diagnosis. A screening colonoscopy that finds a polyp keeps Z12.11 as the reason for the visit, with K63.5 or another polyp code added.
Screening is different from follow-up. A colonoscopy to check on earlier polyps or cancer is surveillance and is coded with follow-up and personal history codes, not Z12.11. A family history of colon cancer (Z80.0) can be added to a screening encounter.
Related codes under Z12.1
Questions about Z12.11
What if a polyp is found during a screening colonoscopy?
List Z12.11 first as the reason for the encounter and add the code for the polyp. The guidelines allow the finding to be added to a screening code.
What is the difference between Z12.11 and Z12.12?
Z12.11 is screening for cancer of the colon. Z12.12 is screening for cancer of the rectum.
ICD-10-CM in CloudMedico
In CloudMedico, a visit's diagnoses come from the current ICD-10-CM list. For US practices, the visit flags a code that isn't billable on its date, and a superbill made from an invoice carries the visit's diagnoses.
Try CloudMedico free for 30 days