Guidelines › Pressure ulcers: unstageable, healed and progressing

Pressure ulcers: unstageable, healed and progressing

Official text from the FY2027 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting. The wording is quoted exactly.

Guidelines I.C.12.a.2; I.C.12.a.4; I.C.12.a.6

“This code should not be confused with the codes for unspecified stage (L89.--9).”

“If during an encounter, the stage of an unstageable pressure ulcer is revealed after debridement, assign only the code for the stage revealed following debridement.”

“No code is assigned if the documentation states that the pressure ulcer is completely healed at the time of admission.”

“two separate codes should be assigned: one code for the site and stage of the ulcer on admission and a second code for the same ulcer site and the highest stage reported during the stay.”

Where this applies

175 billable codes. Source: FY 2027 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, effective October 1, 2026. Full Guidelines (PDF, CMS)

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