Is L98.4 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No. L98.4 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.

Where does L98.4 sit in the tabular list?

Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99), in the block Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L80-L99).

L98.4

L98.4 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin, not elsewhere classified

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

L98.4 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin, not elsewhere classified. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below.

Excludes2 — not included here, but may coexist

The excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient can have both. You may code both.

pressure ulcer (pressure area) (L89.-)
gangrene (I96)
skin infections (L00-L08)
specific infections classified to A00-B99
ulcer of lower limb NEC (L97.-)
varicose ulcer (I83.0-I83.93)

Inclusion terms

Alternative wordings a physician may use in the chart for this same code.

Chronic ulcer of skin NOS
Tropical ulcer NOS
Ulcer of skin NOS

Risk adjustment

L98.4 does not map to an HCC and does not risk-adjust under CMS-HCC V28. That is normal — most ICD-10 codes do not. It still needs to be coded correctly; it just will not move a RAF score.

Code to one of these instead L98.4

8 child codes. Green means billable.

Related codes at this level

Codes that share L98. If L98.4 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.

Questions about L98.4

Is L98.4 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: No. L98.4 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
Where does L98.4 sit in the tabular list?: Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99), in the block Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L80-L99).