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L89 ICD-10-CM Code: Pressure ulcer

Billing Status: NO. This is a clinician non-billable / parent hierarchy grouping in the ICD-10-CM system.

Coding at a Glance

Tabular directives
5 inclusion terms · 5 Excludes2 · 1 code-first instruction

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for L89 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Includes

Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.

  • bed sore
  • decubitus ulcer
  • plaster ulcer
  • pressure area
  • pressure sore

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

Code First

Underlying conditions that must be sequenced before this code.

  • any associated gangrene (I96)

Coder workflow for L89

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code L89

  1. L89 is not reportable as written. Select the more specific code beneath it that the documentation supports. Codes are reported to the highest level of specificity the classification provides (Guidelines I.B.2).

    ReviewL89.0, L89.1, L89.2, L89.3, L89.4, L89.5, L89.6, L89.8, L89.9

    See the relationships section · Guide: How to choose an ICD-10-CM code →

Choose the right path

  1. Does the documentation support one of the more specific codes beneath L89?
    Yes → Select that code and continue the checks below on its own page.
    No → L89 cannot be reported as written; query for the specificity its subcategory needs.

    ReviewL89.0, L89.1, L89.2, L89.3, L89.4, L89.5, L89.6, L89.8, L89.9

  2. Is the underlying (etiologic) condition the Code First note names documented?
    Yes → Sequence the underlying condition first, then L89.
    No → Continue; do not add an underlying condition the record does not document.

    ReviewI96

Consider L89. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement
Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).
The underlying (etiologic) condition
Named in the Code First note; sequenced before this code when documented (Guidelines I.A.13).

Official instructions as workflow

  • Excludes2 — not part of L89(5 notes)

    Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in L89. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

    CompareN86, E08.621, E08.622, E09.621, E09.622, E10.621

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

  • Code First — sequencing check(1 note)

    Coding workflow: Check whether the underlying or etiologic condition the note names is documented. When it is, sequence it before L89. Do not add an underlying condition the record does not document.

    ReviewI96

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.13

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Documentation: The underlying condition the Code First note names is documented alongside this condition.

Coding question: How are the two sequenced?

Path: Review the Code First note.

Reason: The underlying condition is sequenced first and the manifestation follows (Guidelines I.A.13).

ReviewI96

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Code Overview

Pressure ulcer is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (L89). A more specific billable subcode must be selected for claims submission.

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Official Coding Guidelines

Official source data — quoted verbatim from the CMS/NCHS Official Guidelines

Official source data — quoted verbatim from the CMS/NCHS Official Guidelines

Verbatim excerpts from the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (CMS/NCHS) that govern this code.

Chapter 12: Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (L00-L99)

1) Pressure ulcer stages Codes in category L89, Pressure ulcer, identify the site and stage of the pressure ulcer.

Chapter 12: Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (L00-L99)

Assign as many codes from category L89 as needed to identify all the pressure ulcers the patient has, if applicable.

Chapter 12: Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (L00-L99)

2) Unstageable pressure ulcers Assignment of the code for unstageable pressure ulcer (L89.--0) should be based on the clinical documentation. These codes are used for

Chapter 12: Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (L00-L99)

pressure ulcers whose stage cannot be clinically determined (e.g., the ulcer is covered by eschar or has been treated with a skin or muscle graft). This code should not be confused with the codes for unspecified stage (L89.--9). When there is no documentation regarding the stage of the pressure ulcer, assign the appropriate code for unspecified stage (L89.-- 9).

Chapter 12: Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (L00-L99)

7) Pressure-induced deep tissue damage For pressure-induced deep tissue damage or deep tissue pressure injury, assign only the appropriate code for pressure-induced deep tissue damage (L89.--6).

Verify Before Coding

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name L89 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 4 Excludes2 notes across 2 chapters: L97 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified, L98.4 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin, not elsewhere classified, L98.A — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of upper limb, not elsewhere classified, M70 — Soft tissue disorders related to use, overuse and pressure.

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

Referenced by 1 Use Additional Code instruction: G90.4 — Autonomic dysreflexia.

These codes instruct coders to additionally report this code when it applies.

Contextual Map

Every relationship of L89 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run L89 with these 14 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Excludes2 (21)

Code First

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

Referenced by Use Additional Code instructions

  • G90.4 — Autonomic dysreflexia[Use Additional Code]: “pressure ulcer (pressure area) (L89.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (207)

Change history

  • FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Common coding questions

Can L89 be billed directly?

No. L89 (Pressure ulcer) is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code. A more specific billable subcode must be selected based on clinical documentation.

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data
CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Coding guidelines Official source data
ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (FY2026), quoted by section Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Claim edits Official source data
CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data
CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship
Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears
Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation
Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Pressure ulcer

No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026), and none are recorded for this code. Note changes are tracked from FY2027 only.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to L89 in its code family, with their registry titles.