L29 vs L98.1
L29 (Pruritus) compared with L98.1 (Factitial dermatitis), 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. L29 carries an Excludes1 note covering L98.1: “neurotic excoriation (L98.1)”
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. L29 carries an Excludes2 note covering L98.1: “factitial dermatitis (L98.1)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| L29Pruritus | L98.1Factitial dermatitis | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Billable |
| Classification | L00-L99 — Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (L00-L99) | L00-L99 — Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (L00-L99) |
| Definition | Pruritus is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (L29). | Factitial dermatitis is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (L98.1). |
| Includes | — | Neurotic excoriation |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources