ICDcodes.org
FY2027

L02.519 — Cutaneous abscess of unspecified hand

BillableUnspecifiedCC

Is L02.519 billable?

Yes, but L02.519 will trip a Medicare edit. L02.519 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, CMS lists L02.519 under Medicare Code Editor edit 20, “Unspecified code” — meaning a code specifying laterality (right, left or bilateral) exists in the same family. On an inpatient claim this triggers the edit, because CMS holds that there are very limited circumstances in which laterality cannot be documented.

L02.519 at a glance

CodeL02.519
DescriptionCutaneous abscess of unspecified hand
BillableYes
Code setICD-10-CM FY2027
Valid for encountersOctober 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027

What Medicare edits apply to L02.519?

The Medicare Code Editor screens inpatient claims before they are grouped. These edits name L02.519 directly.

Unspecified — a laterality-specific code exists — MCE edit 20

A code specifying laterality (right, left or bilateral) exists in the same family. CMS holds that there are very limited circumstances in which laterality cannot be documented.

Which MS-DRGs does L02.519 group to?

L02.519 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, L02.519 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.

How is L02.519 listed in the Alphabetic Index?

The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under L02.51, the nearest indexed parent of L02.519. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.

  • Abscess › hand (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)

Use additional code — inherited from L00-L08

Report an additional code alongside L02.519 to fully describe the condition. L02.519 is sequenced first.

  • code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.

Use additional code — inherited from L02

Report an additional code alongside L02.519 to fully describe the condition. L02.519 is sequenced first.

  • code to identify organism (B95-B96)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 12

The conditions below are not part of L02.519, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L02.519 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 L02.519, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L02.519 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 L02.519, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L02.519 and the excluded code may both be reported.

  • abscess of anus and rectal regions (K61.-)
  • abscess of female genital organs (external) (N76.4)
  • abscess of male genital organs (external) (N48.2, N49.-)

How long has L02.519 existed?

L02.519 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.

Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.

What other codes are in the L02.51 family? (2)