L97.529

Billable

Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of left foot with unspecified severity

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 383 — Diabetic Skin Ulcer and Severe Skin Conditions

0.517

V24HCC 161 — Chronic Ulcer of Skin, Except Pressure

0.426

ESRDHCC 161 — Chronic Ulcer of Skin, Except Pressure

0.000

RxHCCHCC 311 — Diabetic and Chronic Skin Ulcer

0.000

What This Code Means

A long-lasting open sore on the left foot (not caused by pressure) that has not healed, with the severity level not specified.

Coding Tips

•Verify the exact location on the left foot and confirm it is non-pressure related before coding
•If severity can be determined from documentation, use a more specific code (L97.521-L97.528) rather than the unspecified code

Clinical Significance

This non-pressure chronic ulcer on the other part of left foot with unspecified severity indicates incomplete wound assessment documentation, which limits care coordination and accurate risk stratification. Chronic non-pressure ulcers are significant for risk adjustment because they indicate ongoing complex wound management needs, increased healthcare utilization, and often reflect underlying systemic conditions such as peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, or venous insufficiency. Accurate severity coding directly impacts care planning, specialist referral decisions, and appropriate resource allocation for wound care services.

Documentation Requirements

✓Confirmation that the ulcer is chronic (present for extended duration, not acute)
✓Documentation that the ulcer is NOT caused by pressure (non-pressure etiology)
✓Specific anatomical site of the ulcer on the other part of left foot
✓Laterality documented as left side
✓Note: This is an unspecified code — query provider for severity details when possible
✓If severity truly cannot be determined, document the reason
✓Underlying etiology or contributing conditions (e.g., venous insufficiency, arterial disease, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy)
✓Current wound measurements (length, width, depth) and wound bed description
✓Current treatment plan and wound care management

Commonly Confused Codes

L97.519 — Right foot equivalent; verify laterality documentation carefully L97.521 — skin breakdown — if any severity detail is available, use the specific code instead L97.528 — other specified severity — use when severity is documented but atypical L89.xxx — Pressure ulcer codes; L97 is specifically for NON-pressure chronic ulcers L97.8xx — Lower leg ulcer codes; verify whether the ulcer is on the foot or leg

Code Hierarchy

└L97Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified └L97.5Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of foot └L97.52Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of left foot └L97.529Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of left foot with unspecified severity

└L97.529Non-pressure chronic ulcer of other part of left foot with unspecified severity