Transportation insecurity

This code identifies a patient's lack of reliable access to transportation, which can hinder their ability to obtain necessary goods and services, including medical care. It signifies a social determinant of health where inadequate transportation options contribute to health disparities and poor health outcomes.

Apply this code when documentation explicitly states that a patient's health or well-being is negatively impacted by their inability to secure consistent and appropriate transportation. This includes situations where patients miss appointments, cannot access healthy food, or struggle to reach pharmacies due to transportation barriers.

• Ensure the medical record clearly documents the link between transportation insecurity and the patient's health status or care plan.
• Do not use this code if the primary issue is the physical unavailability or inaccessibility of the healthcare facility itself; refer to the Excludes2 note.
• Consider co-coding with other social determinants of health codes (e.g., Z59.x series) when multiple factors are present.