L03.119 — Cellulitis of unspecified part of limb
Is L03.119 billable?
Yes, but L03.119 will trip a Medicare edit. L03.119 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, CMS lists L03.119 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.
L03.119 at a glance
| Code | L03.119 |
|---|---|
| Description | Cellulitis of unspecified part of limb |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
What Medicare edits apply to L03.119?
The Medicare Code Editor screens inpatient claims before they are grouped. These edits name L03.119 directly.
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 L03.119 group to?
L03.119 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, L03.119 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is L03.119 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under L03.11, the nearest indexed parent of L03.119. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Cellulitis › axilla (diffuse) (phlegmonous) (septic) (suppurative)
- Cellulitis › lower limb (diffuse) (phlegmonous) (septic) (suppurative)
- Cellulitis › upper limb (diffuse) (phlegmonous) (septic) (suppurative)
Use additional code — inherited from L00-L08
Report an additional code alongside L03.119 to fully describe the condition. L03.119 is sequenced first.
- code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 12
The conditions below are not part of L03.119, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L03.119 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 L03.119, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L03.119 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 L03
The conditions below are not part of L03.119, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L03.119 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- cellulitis of anal and rectal region (K61.-)
- cellulitis of external auditory canal (H60.1)
- cellulitis of eyelid (H00.0)
- cellulitis of female external genital organs (N76.4)
- cellulitis of lacrimal apparatus (H04.3)
- cellulitis of male external genital organs (N48.2, N49.-)
- cellulitis of mouth (K12.2)
- cellulitis of nose (J34.0)
- eosinophilic cellulitis [Wells] (L98.3)
- febrile neutrophilic dermatosis [Sweet] (L98.2)
- lymphangitis (chronic) (subacute) (I89.1)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from L03.11
The conditions below are not part of L03.119, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L03.119 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has L03.119 existed?
L03.119 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.