L97.809 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with unspecified severity
Is L97.809 billable?
Yes, but L97.809 is an unspecified code. L97.809 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, L97.809 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 L97.809 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
- L97.801Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg limited to breakdown of skin
- L97.802Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with fat layer exposed
- L97.803Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with necrosis of muscle
- L97.804Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with necrosis of bone
- L97.805Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis
- L97.806Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis
- L97.808Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with other specified severity
L97.809 at a glance
| Code | L97.809 |
|---|---|
| Description | Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with unspecified severity |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does L97.809 group to?
L97.809 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, L97.809 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is L97.809 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to L97.809. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative › lower limb › lower leg NOS › specified site NEC
Code first — inherited from L97
The underlying condition below must be sequenced before L97.809. L97.809 describes a manifestation and cannot be the principal or first-listed diagnosis.
- any associated underlying condition, such as:
- any associated gangrene (I96)
- atherosclerosis of the lower extremities (I70.23-, I70.24-, I70.33-, I70.34-, I70.43-, I70.44-, I70.53-, I70.54-, I70.63-, I70.64-, I70.73-, I70.74-)
- chronic venous hypertension (I87.31-, I87.33-)
- diabetic ulcers (E08.621, E08.622, E09.621, E09.622, E10.621, E10.622, E11.621, E11.622, E13.621, E13.622)
- postphlebitic syndrome (I87.01-, I87.03-)
- postthrombotic syndrome (I87.01-, I87.03-)
- varicose ulcer (I83.0-, I83.2-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 12
The conditions below are not part of L97.809, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L97.809 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 L97
The conditions below are not part of L97.809, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L97.809 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has L97.809 existed?
L97.809 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 L97.80 family? (7)
- L97.801Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg limited to breakdown of skin
- L97.802Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with fat layer exposed
- L97.803Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with necrosis of muscle
- L97.804Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with necrosis of bone
- L97.805Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis
- L97.806Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis
- L97.808Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified lower leg with other specified severity