L08.9 — Local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified
Is L08.9 billable?
Yes, but L08.9 is an unspecified code. L08.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, L08.9 is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting L08.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
L08.9 at a glance
| Code | L08.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does L08.9 group to?
L08.9 sits in MDC 09 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 602Cellulitis with MCCmedical
- 603Cellulitis without MCCmedical
How is L08.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to L08.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Pustule (nonmalignant)
- Dactylitis › skin
- Infection, infected, infective › buttocks (opportunistic)
- Infection, infected, infective › finger (opportunistic)
- Infection, infected, infective › foot (opportunistic)
- Infection, infected, infective › legNOS (opportunistic)
- Infection, infected, infective › local, skin (opportunistic)
- Infection, infected, infective › skin (opportunistic)
- Infection, infected, infective › subcutaneous tissue, local (opportunistic)
- Infection, infected, infective › toe (opportunistic)
- Inflammation, inflamed, inflammatory › areolar tissue NOS (with exudation)
- Inflammation, inflamed, inflammatory › leg NOS (with exudation)
Use additional code — inherited from L00-L08
Report an additional code alongside L08.9 to fully describe the condition. L08.9 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 L08.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L08.9 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 L08.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L08.9 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.-)
How long has L08.9 existed?
L08.9 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.