I89.1 vs L03
I89.1 (Lymphangitis) compared with L03 (Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.
Can these codes be reported together?
No — do not report together. I89.1 carries an Excludes1 note covering L03: “acute lymphangitis (L03.-)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
Yes, when both are documented. L03 carries an Excludes2 note covering I89.1: “lymphangitis (chronic) (subacute) (I89.1)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| I89.1Lymphangitis | L03Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Non-billable header |
| Classification | I00-I99 — Diseases of the Circulatory System (I00-I99) | L00-L99 — Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (L00-L99) |
| Definition | Lymphangitis is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (I89.1). | Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (L03). |
| Includes | Chronic lymphangitis Lymphangitis NOS Subacute lymphangitis | — |
| Use additional code | — | code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent. |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources