L51 — Erythema multiforme
Is L51 billable?
No — L51 is a non-billable header code. L51 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 6 billable codes beneath L51.
L51 at a glance
| Code | L51 |
|---|---|
| Description | Erythema multiforme |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Excludes1 — never code together
The conditions below can never be reported together with L51 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
Report an additional code alongside L51 to fully describe the condition. L51 is sequenced first.
- code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)
- code to identify associated manifestations, such as:
- arthropathy associated with dermatological disorders (M14.8-)
- conjunctival edema (H11.42)
- conjunctivitis (H10.22-)
- corneal scars and opacities (H17.-)
- corneal ulcer (H16.0-)
- edema of eyelid (H02.84-)
- inflammation of eyelid (H01.8-)
- keratoconjunctivitis sicca (H16.22-)
- mechanical lagophthalmos (H02.22-)
- stomatitis (K12.-)
- symblepharon (H11.23-)
- code to identify percentage of skin exfoliation (L49.-)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from L49-L54
The conditions below can never be reported together with L51 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 12
The conditions below are not part of L51, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L51 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.-)
What codes fall under L51? (6)
How long has L51 existed?
L51 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.
Which codes are confused with L51?
ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with L51 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.