V codes (V01-V91) represent encounters with circumstances other than disease or injury. V codes are used as either a first or second code depending on the incident. There are four important reasons V codes are used:
• A person who isn’t sick or injured encounters the healthcare setting for a specific reason (exposure to HIV)
• A person with a revolving or chronic condition requires aftercare for that condition (removal of sutures)
• Problems influencing a person’s health but aren’t a current illness or injury (asymptomatic HIV status)
• Newborns to indicate birth status
V codes can be used as a primary diagnosis unless specified in the code descriptor. They are used to describe an encounter for testing or identifying a potential risk.