L97.909 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower leg with unspecified severity

BillableUnspecifiedCC

Is L97.909 billable?

Yes, but L97.909 will trip a Medicare edit. L97.909 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, CMS lists L97.909 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.

More specific alternatives

L97.909 at a glance

Code	L97.909
Description	Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified 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

What Medicare edits apply to L97.909?

The Medicare Code Editor screens inpatient claims before they are grouped. These edits name L97.909 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 L97.909 group to?

L97.909 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, L97.909 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.

How is L97.909 listed in the Alphabetic Index?

These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to L97.909. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.

Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative › lower limb
Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative › lower limb › lower leg NOS

Code first — inherited from L97

The underlying condition below must be sequenced before L97.909. L97.909 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 L97.909, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L97.909 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