What is ICD-10 code Z48.22?

Z48.22 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Encounter for aftercare following kidney transplant. A follow-up visit for ongoing care and monitoring after receiving a kidney transplant. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for factors influencing health status and contact with health services (z00-z99). Z48.22 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. Z48.22 is part of the FY2026 ICD-10-CM code set published by the CMS National Center for Health Statistics and used on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial claims in the United States.

Yes. Z48.22 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can be reported on professional and institutional claims as a primary or secondary diagnosis when the provider documentation supports the specific condition described. Billable codes in ICD-10-CM are coded to the highest level of specificity available for the documented diagnosis. Z48.22 is current for fiscal year 2026 and remains in the active CMS ICD-10-CM code set published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for Z48.22?

Z48.22 does not map to a payment HCC under either the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model or the older V24 model. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition. Because neither model rewards Z48.22 with a risk adjustment factor, it contributes zero to a Medicare Advantage beneficiary's RAF score in either version. Coders should check whether provider documentation supports a more specific child code that does map to a payment HCC.

What should coders know when reporting Z48.22?

This code is appropriate for routine transplant surveillance and medication management Do not use if the visit is primarily for acute rejection or graft failure

Z48.22: Encounter for aftercare following kidney transplant — ICD-10

ICD-10-CM Code View

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Code lookupZ48.22Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Factors influencing health status and contact with health services (Z00-Z99) / Encounters for other specific health care (Z40-Z53)

Z48.22

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Encounter for aftercare following kidney transplant

A follow-up visit for ongoing care and monitoring after receiving a kidney transplant.

Buddy Insight

This code indicates ongoing post-transplant care for kidney transplant recipients, representing patients with complex medical needs requiring intensive monitoring and specialized management.

CMS-HCC V28

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

CMS-HCC V24

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

ACA/HHS

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

ESRD/PACE

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

RXHCC

Mapped

HCC 260

Kidney Transplant Complications

RAF 0.0

Code Trumping

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Code Book Path

Official

Z48Encounter for other postprocedural aftercare

Z48.2Encounter for aftercare following organ transplant

Z48.22Encounter for aftercare following kidney transplant

Inclusion Terms

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for Z48.22 in this effective period.

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for Z48.22 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official

Z48.21Encounter for aftercare following heart transplant

Z48.23Encounter for aftercare following liver transplant

Z48.24Encounter for aftercare following lung transplant

Z48.28Encounter for aftercare following multiple organ transplant

Z48.29Encounter for aftercare following other organ transplant

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for Z48.22 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for Z48.22 in this effective period.

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for Z48.22 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for Z48.22 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for Z48.22 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Clear documentation of kidney transplant history

Specific mention of aftercare or follow-up purpose

Post-transplant monitoring activities performed

Assessment of transplant function (creatinine, GFR)

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Clear documentation of kidney transplant history

Specific mention of aftercare or follow-up purpose

Post-transplant monitoring activities performed

Assessment of transplant function (creatinine, GFR)

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Confusing transplant status codes with aftercare encounter codes

Using wrong organ-specific aftercare code

Missing the encounter nature when transplant status is documented

Not coding complications separately when present

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

Z94.0 — Use for kidney transplant status without active aftercare encounter

Z48.21 — Use for heart transplant aftercare instead of kidney

Z48.23 — Use for liver transplant aftercare instead of kidney

T86.10 — Use when documenting kidney transplant complications/rejection

Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.

Is Z48.22 an HCC code?

No. Z48.22 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any HCC category in V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC.

HCC Category Mapping

RxHCCHCC 260, Kidney Transplant Complications

0.000

RAF weights shown are the community, non-dual, aged base weights from the CMS risk adjustment model file. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member segment, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains in use during the transition and for historical data.

Work Z48.22 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT Criteria for Z48.22

For Z48.22to count as a valid HCC diagnosis in a given encounter, the provider's documentation must show MEAT: Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat. A diagnosis from a prior year does not carry forward automatically, it has to be re-documented and supported each calendar year.

MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis

Only one of M/E/A/T is required to support the code, but the documentation must be specific enough to show that the provider actually addressed Z48.22 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

Z48.22 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for encounter for aftercare following kidney transplant. A follow-up visit for ongoing care and monitoring after receiving a kidney transplant. Z48.22 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for factors influencing health status and contact with health services (z00-z99), within the section covering encounters for other specific health care (z40-z53).

Z48.22 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to a payment HCC under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions but it does not contribute to a beneficiary's RAF score and therefore does not affect risk-adjusted payments to the plan.

Maps to RxHCC 260 for Kidney Transplant Complications, reflecting the specialized medication management and monitoring needs of kidney transplant recipients. This indicates significant pharmaceutical intervention requirements and ongoing clinical complexity. Coders reviewing Z48.22 should check whether additional documentation would support a more specific child code in the same hierarchy that does map to a payment HCC, capturing the correct specificity is the highest-impact RAF improvement available within accurate coding.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for Z48.22 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•This code is appropriate for routine transplant surveillance and medication management
•Do not use if the visit is primarily for acute rejection or graft failure

Clinical Significance

This code indicates ongoing post-transplant care for kidney transplant recipients, representing patients with complex medical needs requiring intensive monitoring and specialized management. Kidney transplant aftercare involves immunosuppression management, rejection surveillance, and monitoring for complications.