New Diagnostic Codes Allow Health Care Providers to Better Identify Human Trafficking and Exploitation

Posted over 6 years ago by Marci Newcome

Human trafficking and exploitation is known to happen across Minnesota, but current estimates typically rely on the number of victims using prevention and recovery services which can underestimate the number of people impacted. Updates to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes released in October 2018 now better differentiate between human trafficking and other types of abuse. These new codes will help improve the understanding of the depth and breadth of the issue in Minnesota and across the country.

The new codes include two types: T codes are used for cases of suspected and confirmed forced labor and sexual exploitation, while Z codes are used for the examination and observation of human trafficking victims (See Appendix for more detail).

Appendix

There are two types of code included: T code is for cases of suspected and confirmed forced labor and sexual exploitation; Z code stands for the examination and observation of human trafficking victimization.

T codes to report for cases of suspected and confirmed forced labor and sexual exploitation:

1. Under Adult and child abuse, neglect and other maltreatment, confirmed

T74.5 – Forced sexual exploitation, confirmed

T74.51 – Adult forced sexual exploitation, confirmed

T74.52 – Child sexual exploitation, confirmed

T74.6 – Forced labor exploitation, confirmed

T74.61 – Adult forced labor exploitation, confirmed

T74.62 – Child forced labor exploitation, confirmed

2. Under Adult and child abuse, neglect and other maltreatment, suspected

T76.5 – Forced sexual exploitation, suspected

T76.51 – Adult forced sexual exploitation, suspected

T76.52 – Child sexual exploitation, suspected

T76.6 – Forced labor exploitation, suspected

T76.61 – Adult forced labor exploitation, suspected

T76.62 – Child forced labor exploitation, suspected

Z codes for the examination and observation of human trafficking victimization:

1. Under Encounter for examination and observation for other reasons

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

2. Under Problems related to upbringing: Personal history of abuse in childhood

Z62.813 – Personal history of forced labor or sexual exploitation in childhood

3. Under Personal risk factors, not elsewhere classified: Personal history of psychological trauma, not elsewhere classified

Z91.42 – Personal history of forced labor or sexual exploitation