L44.2 is not a CMS-HCC payment code. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC Buddy coding tools

ICD-10-CM Code View

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Code lookupL44.2

Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99) / Papulosquamous disorders (L40-L45)

L44.2

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Lichen striatus

A benign skin condition where small, itchy bumps appear in linear patterns, usually on one side of the body, often following lines of skin tension.

Overview Risk Models Code Book Documentation Audit Notes Edition comparison

CMS-HCC V28

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

CMS-HCC V24

Historical

Not used for standard CY2026 Medicare Advantage payment. Select a historical period to review V24.

Not used for CY2026 payment

ACA/HHS

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

ESRD/PACE

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

RXHCC

N/A

—

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

Not mapped

Code Book Path

Official

L44Other papulosquamous disorders L44.2Lichen striatus

Inclusion Terms

Official

No inclusion terms are included in this display for L44.2. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Excludes 2

Official

certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)Inherited from L00-L99
certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)Inherited from L00-L99
complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)Inherited from L00-L99
congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)Inherited from L00-L99
endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)Inherited from L00-L99
lipomelanotic reticulosis (I89.8)Inherited from L00-L99
neoplasms (C00-D49)Inherited from L00-L99
symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)Inherited from L00-L99
systemic connective tissue disorders (M30-M36)Inherited from L00-L99
viral warts (B07.-)Inherited from L00-L99

Related Codes

Official

L44.0Pityriasis rubra pilaris L44.1Lichen nitidus L44.3Lichen ruber moniliformis L44.4Infantile papular acrodermatitis [Gianotti-Crosti]L44.8Other specified papulosquamous disorders

Includes

Official

No Includes notes are included in this display for L44.2. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Excludes 1

Official

No Excludes 1 notes are included in this display for L44.2. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Code First

Official

No Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for L44.2. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Use Additional

Official

No Use Additional Code instructions are included in this display for L44.2. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Code Also

Official

No Code Also instructions are included in this display for L44.2. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Note the linear distribution pattern in documentation to support diagnosis

This condition is typically self-resolving; document duration and any treatment provided

Current with CMS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr 1 update (effective Apr 1 – Sep 30, 2026) · CMS-HCC V28, 100% phased in for payment year 2026. FY2027 code set already staged for October 1, 2026. How HCC Buddy stays current →

Is L44.2 an HCC code?

No. L44.2 is a billable ICD-10-CM code with no mapping under the current CMS-HCC V28 community payment model, and none under the ESRD, Part D RxHCC, or HHS-HCC models.

Code: L44.2
Description: Lichen striatus
HCC (V28): No CMS-HCC V28 mapping
RAF reference coefficient: —
Billable: Yes
Payment year: 2026

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

L44.2 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for lichen striatus. A benign skin condition where small, itchy bumps appear in linear patterns, usually on one side of the body, often following lines of skin tension. L44.2 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).

L44.2 is a billable ICD-10-CM code, but no current CMS-HCC V28 community payment mapping is shown, and none under the ESRD, Part D RxHCC, or HHS-HCC models. Do not assign risk adjustment value from this page when no source-backed mapping is shown; verify the applicable model and payment year.

Note the linear distribution pattern in documentation to support diagnosis.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for L44.2 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•Note the linear distribution pattern in documentation to support diagnosis
•This condition is typically self-resolving; document duration and any treatment provided