L40.8 ICD-10-CM Code: Other psoriasis
HCC Buddy Code Card
Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.
FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99) / Papulosquamous disorders (L40-L45)
L40.8
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceOther psoriasis
Psoriasis with unusual presentations or characteristics that do not fit into the standard psoriasis categories.
Buddy Insight
This code captures other specified forms of psoriasis not classified elsewhere, such as inverse psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis, or nail psoriasis.
CMS-HCC V28
00
RAF 0
CMS-HCC V24
00
RAF 0
ACA/HHS
00
RAF 0
ESRD/PACE
00
RAF 0
RXHCC
MappedHCC 316
RAF 0.0
Code Trumping
Basket needed
Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
Official- Flexural psoriasis
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for L40.8 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for L40.8 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for L40.8 in this effective period.
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for L40.8 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for L40.8 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for L40.8 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.
Is L40.8 an HCC code?
No. L40.8 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any HCC category in V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC.
HCC Category Mapping
RAF weights shown are the community, non-dual, aged base weights from the CMS risk adjustment model file. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member segment, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains in use during the transition and for historical data.
MEAT Criteria for L40.8
For L40.8to count as a valid HCC diagnosis in a given encounter, the provider's documentation must show MEAT: Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat. A diagnosis from a prior year does not carry forward automatically, it has to be re-documented and supported each calendar year.
- MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
- EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
- AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
- TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis
Only one of M/E/A/T is required to support the code, but the documentation must be specific enough to show that the provider actually addressed L40.8 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
L40.8 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other psoriasis. Psoriasis with unusual presentations or characteristics that do not fit into the standard psoriasis categories. L40.8 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (l00-l99), within the section covering papulosquamous disorders (l40-l45).
L40.8 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to a payment HCC under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions but it does not contribute to a beneficiary's RAF score and therefore does not affect risk-adjusted payments to the plan.
Does not map to any CMS-HCC in V28, V24, or ESRD models. Maps only to RxHCC 316 (Psoriasis and Other Papulosquamous Disorders) for prescription drug risk adjustment. No direct Medicare Advantage RAF score impact, even for severe variants like erythrodermic psoriasis.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for L40.8 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Document the specific type or presentation of psoriasis to justify use of this 'other' category
- •Review if a more specific L40 code (such as plaque, guttate, or pustular) would be more appropriate
Clinical Significance
This code captures other specified forms of psoriasis not classified elsewhere, such as inverse psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis, or nail psoriasis. These variants can be clinically significant — erythrodermic psoriasis in particular is a dermatologic emergency. Proper identification ensures appropriate treatment intensity and resource allocation.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Provider documentation specifying the psoriasis variant
- ✓Clinical description of the morphology and distribution
- ✓Severity assessment including body surface area if applicable
- ✓Current treatment plan appropriate to the specific variant
- ✓Any complications or associated conditions
- ✓Evidence the condition was managed during the encounter
Commonly Confused Codes
- •L40.0 (Psoriasis vulgaris) — classic plaque type; use L40.8 for non-plaque variants
- •L40.9 (Psoriasis, unspecified) — use L40.8 when a specific non-plaque variant is documented
- •L40.1 (Generalized pustular psoriasis) — has its own specific code; do not use L40.8
- •L26 (Exfoliative dermatitis) — erythrodermic psoriasis should be coded as L40.8, not L26