Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L81.9

Disorder of pigmentation, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Code:: L81.9
ICD-10 Code for:: Disorder of pigmentation, unspecified
Is Billable?: Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: ^[1]: Not chronic
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Code Information
Approximate Synonyms
Clinical Classification
Clinical Information
Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries
Index to Diseases and Injuries References
Diagnostic Related Groups Mapping
Convert to ICD-9 Code
Patient Education
Other Codes Used Similar Conditions
Code History

Code Classification

Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
(L00–L99)
- Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
  (L80-L99)
  - Other disorders of pigmentation
    (L81)

L81.9 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of disorder of pigmentation, unspecified. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like L81.9 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

Application site pigmentation changes
Atypical pigmented lesion
Benign pigmented skin lesion
Crust on skin
Crusting of pigmented skin lesion
Disorder of pigmentation
Disorder of pigmentation of skin following cosmetic surgery
Disorder of skin color
Disorder of skin pigmentation
Drug pigmentation
Drug-induced oral condition
Drug-induced oral pigmentation
Drug-induced pigmentation
Exogenous pigmentation of oral mucosa
Extrasystoles, short stature, hyperpigmentation, microcephaly syndrome
Finding of color of female perineum
Genetic disorder of skin pigmentation
Hyperpigmentation of female perineum
Hyperpigmentation of skin
Injection site pigmentation change
Itching of pigmented skin lesion
Non-melanin pigmentation due to exogenous substance
Occupationally-acquired disorder of skin pigmentation
Oozing of pigmented skin lesion
Pattern of pigmentation
Physiological pigmentation
Physiological pigmentation of mucous membranes
Pigmentation defects, palmoplantar keratoderma, skin carcinoma syndrome
Pigmentation disorder of lip
Pigmentation due to bismuth
Pigmentation of skin caused by artificial ultraviolet light
Pigmentation of skin or mucosa
Pigmentation of skin or mucosa
Pigmented skin lesion
Pigmented skin lesion of lower limb
Pigmented skin lesion of uncertain nature
Pigmented skin lesion of uncertain nature of head
Pigmented skin lesion of uncertain nature of lower extremity
Pigmented skin lesion of uncertain nature of neck
Pigmented skin lesion of uncertain nature of trunk
Pigmented skin lesion of uncertain nature of upper limb
Skin discharge
Skin pigmentation
Skin pigmentation
Subcutaneous component of pigmented skin lesion
Ultraviolet-induced skin pigmentation - tanning

Clinical Classification

Clinical Category is Other specified and unspecified skin disorders
CCSR Category Code: SKN007
Inpatient Default CCSR: Y - Yes, default inpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.
Outpatient Default CCSR: Y - Yes, default outpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.

Clinical Information

Skin Pigmentation
coloration of the skin.
Skin Pigmentation
the color of the skin as determined by the amount of melanin present.
Skin Pigmentation Disorder|Pigmentation Disorders
a disorder of the skin characterized by loss or reduction of the skin color. it is caused by loss of melanocytes or abnormalities in melanin production.

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

- Anomaly, anomalous (congenital) (unspecified type) - Q89.9
- - pigmentation - L81.9

- Dermatosis - L98.9
- - pigmentary - L81.9

- Disorder (of) - See Also: Disease;
- - pigmentation - L81.9

- Dyschromia (skin) - L81.9

- Lesion (s) (nontraumatic)
- - pigment, pigmented (skin) - L81.9

- Pigmentation (abnormal) (anomaly) - L81.9

L81.9 is grouped with Diagnostic Related Groups - MS-DRG Mapping

Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) are a classification system used to group together diagnosis codes for the purpose of reimbursement and healthcare management. DRGs are used to standardize the way hospitals and other providers are paid for inpatient services. In this system patients are grouped together based on their principal diagnosis in areas referred to as Major Diagnostic Categories (MDC). Once a patient is assigned a particular diagnostic category, providers receive a predetermined payment rate for the services rendered. This reimbursement rate is often fixed and is meant to cover the cost of care for that patient. Reimbursement is also affected by the relative weight of a diagnostic related group based on the severity of a patient's illness and the associated cost of care during hospitalization.

Diagnostic related groups encourage healthcare providers to focus on quality and efficiency in patient care while managing costs effectively. The diagnosis code is present in the following groups for version MS-DRG V41.0 applicable from 10/01/2023 through 09/30/2024.

MS-DRG	MS-DRG Title	MCD	Relative Weight
606	MINOR SKIN DISORDERS WITH MCC	09	1.5858
607	MINOR SKIN DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC	09	0.8935

The relative weight of a diagnostic related group determines the reimbursement rate based on the severity of a patient's illness and the associated cost of care during hospitalization.

Convert L81.9 to ICD-9-CM

ICD-9-CM Code: 709.00 - Dyschromia, unspecified

Patient Education

Skin Pigmentation Disorders

Pigmentation means coloring. Skin pigmentation disorders affect the color of your skin. Your skin gets its color from a pigment called melanin. Special cells in the skin make melanin. When these cells become damaged or unhealthy, it affects melanin production. Some pigmentation disorders affect just patches of skin. Others affect your entire body.

If your body makes too much melanin, your skin gets darker. Pregnancy, Addison's disease, and sun exposure all can make your skin darker. If your body makes too little melanin, your skin gets lighter. Vitiligo is a condition that causes patches of light skin. Albinism is a genetic condition affecting a person's skin. A person with albinism may have no color, lighter than normal skin color, or patchy missing skin color. Infections, blisters and burns can also cause lighter skin.

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.