L97.508
BillableNon-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified foot with other specified severity
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 383 — Diabetic Skin Ulcer and Severe Skin Conditions
0.517V24HCC 161 — Chronic Ulcer of Skin, Except Pressure
0.426ESRDHCC 161 — Chronic Ulcer of Skin, Except Pressure
0.000RxHCCHCC 311 — Diabetic and Chronic Skin Ulcer
0.000What This Code Means
A long-lasting open sore on the foot (not from pressure) with a specified severity level other than the standard categories, affecting an unspecified area of the foot.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code only when documentation describes a specific severity not captured by codes .501-.507
- •Ensure the clinical note justifies why standard severity codes do not apply
Clinical Significance
This code captures non-pressure chronic ulcers with severity characteristics that do not fit the standard classification categories (skin breakdown through bone necrosis). It is used for atypical presentations requiring specific documentation of the wound severity characteristics. Accurate laterality documentation (unspecified other part of foot) is essential for proper code assignment and tracking wound progression over time.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Specific anatomic location documented as other part of unspecified foot
- ✓Confirmation that the ulcer is non-pressure in etiology (not caused by pressure/immobility)
- ✓Chronicity established — ulcer present for extended duration or described as chronic
- ✓Current wound assessment including size (length x width x depth in centimeters)
- ✓Detailed description of the specific severity characteristics that do not fit standard categories
- ✓Clinical rationale for why standard severity codes (skin breakdown, fat exposed, muscle/bone involvement) do not apply
- ✓Underlying etiology or contributing factors (diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, venous insufficiency)
- ✓Current treatment plan including wound care regimen
Commonly Confused Codes
L97.509 — Unspecified severity at same location; use when severity is unknown, not when it is specified but atypicalL97.501 through L97.506 — Standard severity codes at same location; review these before using 'other specified'L89.xxx (Pressure ulcer codes) — Pressure ulcers use the L89 category; L97 is specifically for NON-pressure chronic ulcersL97.518 — Same severity but specified as RIGHT side; use laterality-specific code when documentation supports itL97.528 — Same severity but specified as LEFT side; use laterality-specific code when documentation supports itE11.621 (Type 2 diabetes mellitus with foot ulcer) — If ulcer is due to diabetes, code the diabetic complication first and the L97 code as an additional code to specify site and severity
Code Hierarchy
└L97Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified└L97.5Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of foot└L97.50Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified foot└L97.508Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified foot with other specified severity
└L97.508Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of unspecified foot with other specified severity