FY 2019 ICD-10-CM code update introduces 29 codes for human trafficking
Effective October 1 as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2019 ICD-10-CM code update, there are 29 new ICD-10-CM codes for confirmed and suspected cases of forced labor and sexual exploitation.
Prior to the introduction of 2019 ICD-10-CM codes for human trafficking, there was no way for physicians to identify victims of forced labor and exploitation to plan resources necessary for treatment. There was also no way for health systems to track confirmed and suspected cases of forced labor and exploitation to inform public policy and prevention efforts, according to the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) ICD-10-CM Coding for Human Trafficking factsheet.
The AHA, along with the nonprofit health system Catholic Health Initiatives and Massachusetts General Hospital's Freedom Clinic, worked with CMS to develop the 29 codes that were published in June.
ICD-10-CM subcategories for confirmed cases of adult and child abuse, neglect, and other maltreatment include:
- T74.51-, adult forced sexual exploitation, confirmed
- T74.52-, child sexual exploitation, confirmed
- T74.61-, adult forced labor exploitation, confirmed
Subcategories for suspected cases of adult and child abuse, neglect, and other maltreatment include:
- T74.62-, child forced sexual exploitation, suspected
- T76.51-, adult forced sexual exploitation, suspected
- T76.52-, child sexual exploitation, suspected
- T76.61-, adult forced labor exploitation, suspected
- T76.62-, child forced labor exploitation, suspected
Subcategories for encounters for examination and observation for other reasons include:
- Z04.81-, encounter for examination and observation of victim following forced sexual exploitation
- Z04.82-, encounter for examination and observation of victim following forced labor exploitation
In addition, there are two new subcategories for history of labor or sexual exploitation. These include:
- Z62.813-, personal history of forced labor or sexual exploitation in childhood
- Z91.42-, personal history of forced labor or sexual exploitation
Finally, there is a new subcategory to identify multiple perpetrators of maltreatment and neglect (Y07.6, multiple perpetrators of maltreatment and neglect).
The new codes may be assigned in addition to existing ICD-10-CM codes for abuse, neglect, and other maltreatment.
According to the AHA’s fact sheet, human trafficking is a public health concern that occurs when a trafficker exploits an individual with force, fraud, or coercion to make him or her perform commercial or sex work.
For more information on coding for human trafficking abuse, see the AHA's Hospitals Against Violence website.