L51

L51: Erythema multiforme

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

L51 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for erythema multiforme. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below.

Excludes1: never code together

These conditions cannot occur together. Billing both on the same encounter is a denial.

staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (L00)
Ritter's disease (L00)

Use additional code

Add a secondary code to capture the detail described below.

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.-)

Other codes that can never be billed with L51

Their own Excludes1 notes name this code, so the conflict is not listed above.

L00Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome

Risk adjustment

No CMS-HCC V28 category: this code does not change a RAF score.

Code history

Unchanged in every release from FY2024 to FY2027.

Code to one of these instead L51

6 child codes. Green means billable.