L97.9
Non-Billable

Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of lower leg

Non-Billable / Non-Specific Code

What is Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of lower leg?

ICD-10-CM L97.9 is the diagnosis code for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of lower leg. This code falls under the section "Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue" within Chapter 12 — Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99). It is a non-billable/non-specific ICD-10-CM code that should not be used for reimbursement. A more specific sub-code is required for billing. Medical coders and healthcare providers use this code to document and classify diagnoses in electronic health records, insurance claims, and clinical databases.

Coding Guidelines for L97.9

Always refer to the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List for complete coding guidelines. Ensure documentation supports the specificity of the code selected. When in doubt, consult a certified medical coder or the latest CMS guidelines.

ICD-10-CM Code Hierarchy

Understanding where L97.9 sits in the ICD-10-CM classification helps ensure proper coding:

Sub-Codes 3 entries
L97.90Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower legNon-BillableL97.901Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower leg limited to breakdown of skinBillableL97.902Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower leg with fat layer exposedBillableL97.903Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower leg with necrosis of muscleBillableL97.904Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower leg with necrosis of boneBillableL97.905Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower leg with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosisBillableL97.906Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower leg with bone involvement without evidence of necrosisBillableL97.908Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower leg with other specified severityBillableL97.909Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower leg with unspecified severityBillableL97.91Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of right lower legNon-BillableL97.911Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of right lower leg limited to breakdown of skinBillableL97.912Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of right lower leg with fat layer exposedBillableL97.913Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of right lower leg with necrosis of muscleBillableL97.914Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of right lower leg with necrosis of boneBillableL97.915Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of right lower leg with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosisBillableL97.916Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of right lower leg with bone involvement without evidence of necrosisBillableL97.918Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of right lower leg with other specified severityBillableL97.919Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of right lower leg with unspecified severityBillableL97.92Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower legNon-BillableL97.921Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg limited to breakdown of skinBillableL97.922Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg with fat layer exposedBillableL97.923Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg with necrosis of muscleBillableL97.924Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg with necrosis of boneBillableL97.925Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosisBillableL97.926Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg with bone involvement without evidence of necrosisBillableL97.928Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg with other specified severityBillableL97.929Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of left lower leg with unspecified severityBillable
Related Codes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is L97.9 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No, L97.9 is a non-billable/non-specific code. You should use a more specific sub-code for billing and reimbursement.

What does L97.9 mean?

L97.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for "Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of lower leg". It is used by healthcare providers to classify and document this condition in medical records and insurance claims.

What is the parent code of L97.9?

The parent code of L97.9 is L97 ("Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified"). L97.9 provides a more specific classification within this category.

What section is L97.9 in?

L97.9 is located in Section L80-L99 — "Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue" within Chapter 12 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.

What are the sub-codes of L97.9?

L97.9 has 3 sub-code(s) that provide more specific detail: L97.90, L97.91, L97.92.

When should I use L97.9?

Use L97.9 when the patients documented diagnosis matches "Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of lower leg" and the clinical documentation supports this level of specificity. Always verify with the latest ICD-10-CM guidelines and payer requirements.

People Also Ask

What is the ICD-10 code for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of lower leg?

The ICD-10-CM code for Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of lower leg is L97.9.

Can L97.9 be used for primary diagnosis?

No, L97.9 is non-billable. Use a more specific sub-code for primary diagnosis billing.

What chapter is L97.9 in?

L97.9 is in Chapter 12 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.

Is L97.9 valid for 2026?

Yes, L97.9 is a valid ICD-10-CM code for the 2026 fiscal year, subject to official CMS updates.

See Also

← PreviousL97.829Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of left lower leg with unspecified severityNext →L97.90Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of unspecified lower leg
Code Details
L97.9
Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified part of lower leg
Non-Billable / Non-Specific Code
12 — Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99)
L80-L99 — Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
2026 ICD-10-CM