Z71.3 with Blue Cross NC: what the policy says
The short answerBlue Cross NC's preventive coding guide lists Z71.3 as the diagnosis for diet counseling in adults with cardiovascular risk factors, and for healthy weight gain in pregnancy. It is not the diagnosis in its adult obesity row.
By Javier Alvarez · Updated · 2 min read
1 row: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Public policy, not the member's benefits.
Blue Cross NC
Commercial reimbursement policies (Bundling Guidelines, Telehealth) and preventive coding guide · North Carolina
| 97802 | Listed (named on the commercial telehealth code list and in the preventive services coding guide.) [1][2] |
|---|---|
| 97803 | Listed (named on the commercial telehealth code list and in the preventive services coding guide.) [1][2] |
| G0270 | Listed (named on the commercial telehealth code list and in the preventive services coding guide.) [1][2] |
| G0271 | Listed (named on the commercial telehealth code list and in the preventive services coding guide.) [1][2] |
| Where it applies | Commercial lines. The Bundling Guidelines (last review 06/2025) and Telehealth policy (last review 09/2025) are Blue Cross NC Commercial Reimbursement Policies. The coding guide covers non-grandfathered health plans. [3][1][2] |
| Diagnoses | In the preventive coding guide, the diet and physical activity counseling row for adults with cardiovascular risk factors lists 97802, 97803, 97804, S9452, S9470, G0270, G0271 and diagnosis Z71.3. The guide says 99402 to 99404 are used in the absence of a wellness visit. [2] |
| Other codes | 97804 (group MNT) is on the same telehealth list. S9470 appears in the preventive coding guide rows. [1][2] |
| Telehealth POS | Telehealth services must be reported with POS 02 (not in the patient's home) or POS 10 (in the patient's home). [1] |
| Telehealth modifier | Modifier 95 identifies synchronous audio and video telemedicine. Audio only telehealth, shown by modifier FQ or 93, receives 75% of the allowed reimbursement. Asynchronous services or modifier GQ are not reimbursable. [1] |
| Telehealth rules | The telehealth code list includes 97802, 97803, 97804, G0270 and G0271. Providers must be eligible to independently perform and bill the equivalent face to face service. Facilities are not eligible for telehealth reimbursement. [1] |
| Visit limits | Not published: call the payer. |
| Referral and prior auth | Not published: call the payer. |
| Who can bill | MNT is not reimbursable when billed by a provider other than a registered dietician, nutritional professional or hospital. Other specialty providers doing MNT are not eligible. [3] |
| Also | MNT is not eligible for separate reimbursement when dialysis services are reimbursed in the same month. [3] |
- Blue Cross NC: Telehealth, Commercial Reimbursement Policy (last review 09/2025), checked October 30, 2026
- Blue Cross NC: Health Care Reform Preventive Services Coding Guide, checked October 30, 2026
- Blue Cross NC: Bundling Guidelines, Commercial Reimbursement Policy (last review 06/2025), checked October 30, 2026
What Blue Cross NC's policy says about Z71.3
Z71.3 is the ICD-10-CM code for dietary counseling and surveillance. At Blue Cross NC it is listed: named in the payer's public policy. Each line below is from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina's own text:
- Where it is listed. Z71.3 is the diagnosis in the row for behavioral counseling to promote a healthy diet and physical activity in adults with cardiovascular risk factors. It is also the last diagnosis in the healthy weight gain in pregnancy row. (Blue Cross NC, checked October 30, 2026)
- Billed with. In the cardiovascular row it pairs with 99402 to 99404, 97802, 97803, 97804, S9452, S9470, G0270, G0271, G0108, G0109, S9140, S9141, S9455, S9460, S9465 and G0446, or part of a preventive visit. In the pregnancy row it pairs with the same MNT codes without G0108, G0109 or G0446. (Blue Cross NC, checked October 30, 2026)
- When it pays. The guide says 99402 to 99404 "are to be used in the absence of a wellness visit". The adult obesity row uses E66 and Z68 diagnoses instead of Z71.3. (Blue Cross NC, checked October 30, 2026)
- Diagnosis position. The guide's table is for claims with a "well-person" diagnosis code as the primary (first) diagnosis, billed at the line level of the claim. (Blue Cross NC, checked October 30, 2026)
Z71.3 at other payers
- Z71.3 with Cigna: listed.
- Z71.3 with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield: listed.
The rest of Blue Cross NC's MNT rules
The Blue Cross NC row has its codes, telehealth rule, limits and referrals, each with its source. Other codes we checked at Blue Cross NC: E66, Z68, 97802 and 99401-99404. What Z71.3 means at any payer is on the Z71.3 code page. Before the claim goes out, compare it with the row in the table above, then download the PDF of what you see.