L98.A298 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with other specified severity
Is L98.A298 billable?
Yes, but L98.A298 will trip a Medicare edit. L98.A298 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, CMS lists L98.A298 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
- L98.A291Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm limited to breakdown of skin
- L98.A292Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with fat layer exposed
- L98.A293Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with necrosis of muscle
- L98.A294Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with necrosis of bone
- L98.A295Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis
- L98.A296Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis
- L98.A299Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with unspecified severity
L98.A298 at a glance
| Code | L98.A298 |
|---|---|
| Description | Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with other specified severity |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
What Medicare edits apply to L98.A298?
The Medicare Code Editor screens inpatient claims before they are grouped. These edits name L98.A298 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 L98.A298 group to?
L98.A298 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, L98.A298 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is L98.A298 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to L98.A298. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative › forearm › with › specified severity NEC
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 12
The conditions below are not part of L98.A298, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L98.A298 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 L98.A
The conditions below are not part of L98.A298, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, L98.A298 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has L98.A298 existed?
L98.A298 first appears in FY2026.
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 L98.A29 family? (7)
- L98.A291Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm limited to breakdown of skin
- L98.A292Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with fat layer exposed
- L98.A293Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with necrosis of muscle
- L98.A294Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with necrosis of bone
- L98.A295Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis
- L98.A296Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis
- L98.A299Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with unspecified severity