R23.9 — Unspecified skin changes
Is R23.9 billable?
Yes, but R23.9 is an unspecified code. R23.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, R23.9 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 R23.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
R23.9 at a glance
| Code | R23.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Unspecified skin changes |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does R23.9 group to?
R23.9 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.
- 606Minor Skin Disorders with MCCmedical
- 607Minor Skin Disorders without MCCmedical
How is R23.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to R23.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Change › skin (s) (in) (of)
- Symptoms NEC › skin and integument NEC
- Symptoms NEC › subcutaneous tissue NEC
- Symptoms NEC › involving › skin and integument
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 18
The conditions below are not part of R23.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, R23.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from R20-R23
The conditions below are not part of R23.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, R23.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- symptoms relating to breast (N64.4-N64.5)
How long has R23.9 existed?
R23.9 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.