Z48.02

Encounter for removal of sutures

Billable / specificPOA exempt

Z48.02 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes in FY2027.

Inclusion terms

Note: Z codes represent reasons for encounters. A corresponding procedure code must accompany a Z code if a procedure is performed. Categories Z00-Z99 are provided for occasions when circumstances other than a disease, injury or external cause classifiable to categories A00-Y89 are recorded as 'diagnoses' or 'problems'. This can arise in two main ways:
Note: (a) When a person who may or may not be sick encounters the health services for some specific purpose, such as to receive limited care or service for a current condition, to donate an organ or tissue, to receive prophylactic vaccination (immunization), or to discuss a problem which is in itself not a disease or injury.
Note: (b) When some circumstance or problem is present which influences the person's health status but is not in itself a current illness or injury.

Not coded here — never report together with this code.

encounter for planned postprocedural wound closure (Z48.1) (from Z48.0)
encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment (Z08-Z09) (from Z48)
encounter for aftercare following injury - code to Injury, by site, with appropriate 7th character for subsequent encounter (from Z48)

Not included here — may be reported together when both conditions exist.

follow-up examination for medical surveillance after treatment (Z08-Z09) (from Z48)
encounter for attention to artificial openings (Z43.-) (from Z48)
encounter for fitting and adjustment of prosthetic and other devices (Z44-Z46) (from Z48)