ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code
L08.9Local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified
L08.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.Short description: Local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unsp
Looking up by condition? See ICD-10 code for Pustule, ICD-10 code for Skin infection, ICD-10 code for Toe skin infection, ICD-10 code for Finger skin infection.
Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data
About L08.9
L08.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified. It belongs to category L08 (other local infections of skin and subcutaneous tissue), block L00-L08 (infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue) and chapter 12 (diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Within L08, choose L08.9 (Local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: pyoderma (L08.0), Erythrasma (L08.1) and other specified local infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L08.8).
It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 602 (Cellulitis with MCC, relative weight 1.4273), DRG 603 (Cellulitis without MCC, relative weight 0.8635) and DRG 795 (Normal Newborn, relative weight 0.2022), in MDC 09 (Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast) and MDC 15 (Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.
It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.
Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 686.9 (unspecified local infection of skin and subcutaneous tissue).
Notes that apply from higher levels
Instructions written at a parent level also apply to L08.9.
Broader instructions also apply from L00-L08 Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue and Chapter 12: Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue.
Alphabetic index entries
19 entriesTerms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to L08.9.
- Dactylitis › skin
- Infection, infected, infective (opportunistic) › buttocks (skin)
- Infection, infected, infective (opportunistic) › finger (skin)
- Infection, infected, infective (opportunistic) › foot (skin)
- Infection, infected, infective (opportunistic) › hip (joint) NEC › skin NEC
- Infection, infected, infective (opportunistic) › knee (joint) NEC › skin
- Infection, infected, infective (opportunistic) › leg (skin) NOS
- Infection, infected, infective (opportunistic) › local, skin (staphylococcal) (streptococcal)
- Infection, infected, infective (opportunistic) › shoulder (joint) NEC › skin NEC
- Infection, infected, infective (opportunistic) › skin (local) (staphylococcal) (streptococcal)
- Infection, infected, infective (opportunistic) › subcutaneous tissue, local
- Infection, infected, infective (opportunistic) › toe (skin)
- Inflammation, inflamed, inflammatory (with exudation) › areolar tissue NOS
- Inflammation, inflamed, inflammatory (with exudation) › leg NOS
- Inflammation, inflamed, inflammatory (with exudation) › parotid region
- Inflammation, inflamed, inflammatory (with exudation) › perineum (female) (male)
- Inflammation, inflamed, inflammatory (with exudation) › skin
- Inflammation, inflamed, inflammatory (with exudation) › subcutaneous tissue
- Pustule (nonmalignant)
MS-DRG v44.0 grouping
All DRGs →Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.
MDC 09 · Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast
MDC 15 · Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Converter →- 686.9Unspecified local infection of skin and subcutaneous tissueexact
From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.
Code history
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
- 2027
- FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
- No changes since FY2016.
Common questions about L08.9
Is L08.9 billable?
- Yes. L08.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can L08.9 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict L08.9 as a principal diagnosis.
Is L08.9 a CC or MCC?
- No. L08.9 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.
What DRG does L08.9 group to?
- L08.9 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 602 (Cellulitis with MCC), MS-DRG 603 (Cellulitis without MCC) and MS-DRG 795 (Normal Newborn). Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.
What is the ICD-9 code for L08.9?
- The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map L08.9 to ICD-9-CM 686.9.