L89.152
BillablePressure ulcer of sacral region, stage 2
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is L89.152 an HCC code?
Yes. L89.152 maps to Pressure Ulcer of Skin with Partial Thickness Skin Loss under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Pressure Ulcer of Skin with Partial Thickness Skin Loss under V24).
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 L89.152
For L89.152 to 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 L89.152 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
L89.152 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for pressure ulcer of sacral region, stage 2. A stage 2 pressure ulcer (bedsore) on the sacral region (lower back/tailbone area) where the skin is broken and the underlying tissue is beginning to show damage. L89.152 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (l00-l99), within the section covering other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (l80-l99).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, L89.152 maps to Pressure Ulcer of Skin with Partial Thickness Skin Loss (HCC 382) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.000. The V24 model used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition mapped L89.152 the same way and at the same RAF weight. V28 is the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model that reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition.
Stage 2 indicates partial-thickness skin loss with visible damage to the dermis layer; document the exact location and size when available. Because L89.152 maps to a payment HCC, the provider's documentation must satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's Medicare Advantage risk adjustment score. When documentation is ambiguous, coders should issue a provider query rather than assume the highest-specificity variant.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for L89.152 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Stage 2 indicates partial-thickness skin loss with visible damage to the dermis layer; document the exact location and size when available
- •Ensure documentation specifies 'sacral region' to distinguish from other pressure ulcer sites like hip, heel, or elbow
Clinical Significance
Stage 2 pressure ulcers of the sacral region are extremely common in hospitalized and long-term care patients due to the sacrum's vulnerability to sustained pressure. While representing partial-thickness loss, sacral stage 2 ulcers are a critical warning sign because the thin tissue overlying the sacrum means progression to deeper stages can occur rapidly. Early intervention is essential to prevent costly and dangerous complications.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Anatomical location specified as sacral region
- ✓Stage explicitly documented as stage 2
- ✓Wound appearance description (blister, abrasion, shallow ulcer)
- ✓Wound measurements (length x width)
- ✓Surrounding skin assessment (maceration, erythema)
- ✓Incontinence management plan if moisture is a contributing factor
- ✓Support surface and repositioning schedule documentation
- ✓Braden scale score if available