Fun With Z Codes: The Clinician's Guide to Diagnosing Non-Disorders

Recording of a live 1-hour webinar broadcasted on 3/22/19 for the National Board of Forensic Evaluators:
Some mental health professionals erroneously believe that once they've slapped a disorder label on an assessment, they've done their due diligence in formulating a DSM-5 diagnosis, but they're missing out on an important and critical aspect of diagnosis-- z-codes!
What are "z-codes?" If they aren't disorders, will insurance companies pay for them? If not, then why are they important?
A comprehensive list of z-codes is an integral part of diagnosis. When clinicians learn to efficiently and effectively list z-codes, they can save themselves and others a great deal of time, write more meaningful treatment plans, more easily identify what's missing in their interventions, and thereby improve client outcomes.
Whether you're a therapist seeking to improve your clinical skills or a forensic evaluator who wants to write a more effective evaluation report, this 1-hour webinar should equip you to start having fun with z-codes.
Learning Objectives:
1. Define z-codes and learn an efficient method for where and how to find then in the DSM-5.
2. List reasons why z-codes are so important for thorough assessment and treatment planning.
3. Identify several z-codes in a case scenario.
DISCLAIMER: Continuing education hours/certificates are available only for mental health professionals who attended the original live webinar event on 3/22/19. This video was posted for educational purposes only.

[@iteachmy3]

Having not been taught about Z-Codes but a professor in my clinical master's program expected us to know, I sought out a video. Yours is excellent! Thank you! I now feel confident I have a good understanding of how to choose the right ones, where to find them, and how they're used. Very much appreciated.

[@mara2mom]

This was AH-MAZE-ING. Thank you for taking the time to explain and show how to find and utilize Z codes.

[@kimberlyscammell3701]

I appreciated the work you put into this. I'm a former counselor and currently working as a service coordinator. I sought out this information to broaden my skill set and I believe it will help exponentially. Thank you.

[@marinandiaz]

Thank you for putting this together, found it very helpful.

[@TristineBarry]

Thank you as always Aaron!!

[@TheImpiroGirl]

Really informative, thank you for sharing this!

[@amygonzalez4297]

Thank you!! So very much for your video.

[@smilez230]

Very informative! Thank you.

[@juleshaven4669]

This video is so helpful - thank you! What is your theory as to why this material is not taught in graduate programs? I don't think you had time to come back to this question and I would love to know the reason!

[@AaronNorton]

Hi, Jules. I think it has a lot to do with insurance companies and government-sponsored insurance (i.e., Medicaid, Medicare, TriCare) not reimbursing for z-codes. However, in addition to provide us with a concise and holistic diagnostic formulation, EAP companies reimburse for z-codes, and they can be always be added as diagnoses that are secondary (tertiary, etc.) to a primary mental disorder diagnosis for insurance claims, so I'm passionate about training clinicians to include them.

[@ilzevandenberg993]

What is the app called that is mentioned in the webinar?

[@AaronNorton]

Hello, Ilze. I think I mentioned a few different apps during the presentation. One of them is the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria app (www.appi.org/apps). Another was the ICD-10 app. There are several of those available in app stores, and I'd suggest picking one that has lots of good ratings.

[@iDad7276]

I saw a bunch of Z codes blowing shit up in Ukraine. Thank God for the Javelin.