Question 1

What is ICD-10 code L22?

Accepted Answer

L22 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Diaper dermatitis. A skin irritation that develops in the diaper area, typically caused by prolonged contact with urine, feces, or moisture in infants and young children. L22 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. L22 is part of the FY2026 ICD-10-CM code set published by the CMS National Center for Health Statistics and used on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial claims in the United States.

Question 2

Is L22 an HCC code?

Accepted Answer

No. L22 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any payment HCC category under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can still be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions, but it does not contribute to the beneficiary's Risk Adjustment Factor (RAF) score and therefore does not affect the risk-adjusted capitation payment to the plan. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026.

Question 3

Is L22 billable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. L22 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can be reported on professional and institutional claims as a primary or secondary diagnosis when the provider documentation supports the specific condition described. Billable codes in ICD-10-CM are coded to the highest level of specificity available for the documented diagnosis. L22 is current for fiscal year 2026 and remains in the active CMS ICD-10-CM code set published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Question 4

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for L22?

Accepted Answer

L22 does not map to a payment HCC under either the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model or the older V24 model. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition. Because neither community model rewards L22 with a risk adjustment factor, it contributes zero to a Medicare Advantage beneficiary's V28/V24 community RAF score in either version. Coders should check whether provider documentation supports a more specific child code that does map to a community payment HCC.

Question 5

What should coders know when reporting L22?

Accepted Answer

This code is used for irritant dermatitis in the diaper area; do not confuse with allergic contact dermatitis (L23) which requires a specific allergen trigger Document the severity and any secondary infections to support medical necessity for treatment recommendations

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L22

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L22 ICD-10-CM Code: Diaper dermatitis

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L22

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