In this post

• ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding for positive HIV status
• Medical practice reimbursement for individual claims based on CPT®
• Common HIV diagnosis codes

Question: 

For an HIV positive patient without symptoms, is the correct diagnosis code Z21 or B20?  What difference does it make to reimbursement?

Answer: 

Following ICD-10 guidelines, a patient with HIV status without symptoms is coded with Z21, positive HIV status.

Some doctors and non-physician practitioners would prefer to use B20. According to ICD-10, B20 is used when the patient has confirmed AIDS.

Following ICD-10 guidelines, if a patient has or has had an HIV related condition, use B20 AIDS.  If the patient has a positive HIV status, without symptoms or related conditions, use Z21.