Nicotine Dependence ICD-10-CM codes

Category F17 is divided by product: F17.21- cigarettes, F17.22- chewing tobacco, F17.29- other tobacco product, and F17.20- unspecified product. E-cigarettes and vaping have no dedicated index entry; nicotine dependence from vaping is generally reported with F17.29- as an other tobacco product. The sixth character is 0 uncomplicated, 1 in remission, 3 with withdrawal, 8 with other nicotine-induced disorders, and 9 with unspecified nicotine-induced disorders. F17.210 (nicotine dependence, cigarettes, uncomplicated) is the most common code.

Smoker, tobacco dependence, and current smoker all index to F17.2-, and documentation of cigarette smoking supports F17.210 without the provider needing to write the word dependence. Z72.0 (tobacco use) is reserved for tobacco use that the provider does not describe as dependence, and it has an Excludes1 note against F17.-, so the two are never reported together.

A former smoker is Z87.891 (personal history of nicotine dependence), and a patient in remission per provider documentation is F17.211. Exposure to secondhand smoke is Z77.22 (environmental) or Z57.31 (occupational), and P96.81 for a newborn. Tobacco use complicating pregnancy is coded to O99.33- first with the F17 code as an additional diagnosis. Cessation counseling is Z71.6.

Many chapters carry a use additional code instruction to identify tobacco exposure, including COPD, otitis media, and cardiovascular conditions. When that instruction applies, choose one of F17.-, Z72.0, Z87.891, or Z77.22 based on the documentation.