L98.A291 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm limited to breakdown of skin

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026.

Applies from L98.A Non-pressure chronic ulcer of upper limb, not elsewhere classified

Applicable to

• Chronic ulcer of upper limb NOS
• Non-healing ulcer of upper limb
• Ulcer of upper limb NEC

Excludes2 (not included here)

• gangrene (I96)
• pressure ulcer (pressure area) (L89.-)
• skin infections (L00-L08)
• specific infections classified to A00-B99
• ulcer of lower limb NEC (L97.-)
• varicose ulcer (I83.0-I83.93)

Risk adjustment (HCC)

• CMS-HCC V28: HCC 383 — Chronic Ulcer of Skin, Except Pressure, Not Specified as Through to Bone or Muscle
• CMS-HCC V22: HCC 161 — Chronic Ulcer of Skin, Except Pressure
• RxHCC V08: HCC 311 — Chronic Ulcer of Skin, Except Pressure
• ESRD V24: HCC 161

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 573-575 in MDC 09.

Diagnosis Index entries for L98.A291

• Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative › forearm › with › skin breakdown only

Nearby codes

• L98.A225 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left forearm with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis
• L98.A226 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left forearm with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis
• L98.A228 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left forearm with other specified severity
• L98.A229 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left forearm with unspecified severity
• L98.A29 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm
• L98.A291 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm limited to breakdown of skin (this code)
• L98.A292 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with fat layer exposed
• L98.A293 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with necrosis of muscle
• L98.A294 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with necrosis of bone
• L98.A295 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with muscle involvement without evidence of necrosis
• L98.A296 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with bone involvement without evidence of necrosis