L02.212 — Cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock and flank]
Is L02.212 billable?
Yes — L02.212 is billable for FY2027. L02.212 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code at the highest level of specificity in its branch. L02.212 may be submitted for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
L02.212 at a glance
| Code | L02.212 |
|---|---|
| Description | Cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock and flank] |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does L02.212 group to?
L02.212 sits in MDC 09 and helps define the logic of 3 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 573Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with MCCsurgical
- 574Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with CCsurgical
- 575Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis without CC/MCCsurgical
As a secondary diagnosis, L02.212 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is L02.212 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to L02.212. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Abscess › back (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
- Abscess › lumbar › nontuberculous (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
- Abscess › trunk › back (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from L02.2
The conditions below can never be reported together with L02.212 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Use additional code — inherited from L00-L08
Report an additional code alongside L02.212 to fully describe the condition. L02.212 is sequenced first.
- code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.
Use additional code — inherited from L02
Report an additional code alongside L02.212 to fully describe the condition. L02.212 is sequenced first.
- code to identify organism (B95-B96)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 12
The conditions below are not part of L02.212, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L02.212 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- lipomelanotic reticulosis (I89.8)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
- systemic connective tissue disorders (M30-M36)
- viral warts (B07.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from L00-L08
The conditions below are not part of L02.212, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L02.212 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- hordeolum (H00.0)
- infective dermatitis (L30.3)
- local infections of skin classified in Chapter 1
- lupus panniculitis (L93.2)
- panniculitis NOS (M79.3)
- panniculitis of neck and back (M54.0-)
- Perlèche NOS (K13.0)
- Perlèche due to candidiasis (B37.0)
- Perlèche due to riboflavin deficiency (E53.0)
- pyogenic granuloma (L98.0)
- relapsing panniculitis [Weber-Christian] (M35.6)
- viral warts (B07.-)
- zoster (B02.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from L02
The conditions below are not part of L02.212, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L02.212 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from L02.2
The conditions below are not part of L02.212, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L02.212 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has L02.212 existed?
L02.212 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
- FY2026Cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock]Cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock and flank]
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.