L25.5 vs L50.9
L25.5 and L50.9 can never be reported together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note, meaning the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient — so exactly one of them is correct for any given encounter.
The official note, declared on L25.5
nettle rash (L50.9)
L25.5
Unspecified contact dermatitis due to plants, except food
BillableUnspecified
- Chapter 12
- Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
- Section
- L20-L30
Indexed under
- Dermatitis › due to › plants NEC (eczematous)
- Dermatitis › contact › due to › plants, non-food (eczematous)
L50.9
Urticaria, unspecified
BillableUnspecified
- Chapter 12
- Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
- Section
- L49-L54
Indexed under
- Urticaria
Excludes1 is not always absolute: where two conditions covered by the note are genuinely unrelated, CMS guidance permits reporting both. Document the reasoning rather than assuming it. More on Excludes1 vs Excludes2 · FY2027