2025 ICD-10-CM code L03.11
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Infections - Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99) Feed
Cellulitis of other parts of the limb.
Modifiers may apply depending on the circumstances of the encounter (e.g., place of service modifiers). Consult the appropriate payer guidelines.
Medical necessity for treatment of cellulitis is established by the presence of clinical signs and symptoms consistent with a bacterial skin infection, often requiring antibiotic therapy to prevent complications such as sepsis or abscess formation. Documentation of these findings is crucial to support medical necessity.
Diagnosis and treatment of cellulitis by a physician, usually involving assessment, ordering labs (blood cultures, etc.), prescribing antibiotics, and monitoring the patient's response to treatment.
- Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99)
- L03-L08 (Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue)
In simple words: A bacterial skin infection (cellulitis) affecting an area of the arm or leg other than the fingers, toes, or groin.
Cellulitis of other parts of the limb, excluding cellulitis of fingers (L03.01-), toes (L03.03-), groin (L03.314), anal and rectal region (K61.-), external auditory canal (H60.1), eyelid (H00.0), female external genital organs (N76.4), lacrimal apparatus (H04.3), male external genital organs (N48.2, N49.-), mouth (K12.2), nose (J34.0), eosinophilic cellulitis [Wells] (L98.3), febrile neutrophilic dermatosis [Sweet] (L98.2), chronic/subacute lymphangitis (I89.1).
Example 1: A 60-year-old male presents with erythema, swelling, and pain in his lower leg after a minor injury.A physician diagnoses cellulitis of the lower leg and initiates antibiotic therapy., A 25-year-old female with a history of eczema develops cellulitis in her upper arm. The physician orders blood tests to identify the causative organism and prescribes a course of antibiotics. , An 80-year-old patient with diabetes develops cellulitis on their forearm following a fall.The physician admits the patient to the hospital for intravenous antibiotic treatment and close monitoring for complications.
** L03.11 is a broad code; more specific codes may be used if the location of cellulitis is more precisely defined.Always consult the latest ICD-10-CM guidelines for accurate coding.
- Revenue Code: Revenue codes will vary depending on the healthcare provider and payer.
- RVU: RVUs are not directly associated with ICD-10 codes.Reimbursement is determined by other factors like place of service and other procedure codes.
- Global Days: Not applicable to this diagnosis code.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable to ICD-10 codes.
- Fee Schedule: Not applicable to ICD-10 codes.Reimbursement is dependent on the specific services provided and billed with CPT or HCPCS codes.
- Specialties:Infectious Disease, Dermatology, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine
- Place of Service:Office, Urgent Care Facility, Emergency Room - Hospital, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital