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Cellulitis ICD-10 Codes Guide for Accurate Medical Billing
- Use L03.115 (right lower limb) and L03.116 (left lower limb) for leg and foot cellulitis.
- Avoid L03.90 unspecified cellulitis unless documentation lacks details.
- Always document site, laterality, severity, and underlying conditions.
- Proper ICD-10 coding minimizes denials and improves reimbursement accuracy.
This updated 2025 guide provides the latest ICD-10 codes, documentation tips, and real-world billing insights to help your practice avoid denials and improve claim success rates.
For precise documentation and coding, our medical billing team offers expert ICD-10 coding services support to help prevent denials.
What is cellulitis?
Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection caused primarily by Streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus. It enters through skin breaks such as cuts, wounds, or insect bites, affecting deeper layers of the skin.
Common symptoms include:
- Redness, swelling, and warmth
- Pain or tenderness in the affected area
- Fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes (in severe cases)
Because cellulitis can occur in different body parts, correct coding with ICD-10 specificity is essential for proper reimbursement and patient care.
Why ICD-10 Coding for Cellulitis Matters in 2025
Accurate cellulitis ICD-10 coding ensures:
- Correct insurance reimbursement and fewer claim denials
- Better tracking of infection sites and severity
- Alignment with 2025 CMS and payer-specific billing guidelines
- Support for medical necessity documentation
Pro Tip for Coders & Providers: Avoid overuse of unspecified codes (L03.90) unless documentation truly lacks site-specific details.
Cellulitis ICD-10 Codes by Location
General/Unspecified
- L03.90 – Cellulitis, unspecified
Use when documentation does not specify site or laterality.
Upper Limb Cellulitis
- L03.113 – Cellulitis of right upper limb
- L03.114 – Cellulitis of left upper limb
- L03.012 – Cellulitis of finger (left, specified/unspecified)
Lower Limb Cellulitis
- L03.115 – Cellulitis of right lower limb (includes right leg, ankle, foot)
- L03.116 – Cellulitis of left lower limb (includes left leg, ankle, foot)
Facial Cellulitis
- L03.211 – Cellulitis of face (cheeks, nose, eyelids, or surrounding areas)
Use General or Unspecified ICD-10 Codes for Cellulitis
In cases where the infection’s location is uncertain, L03.90 (Cellulitis, unspecified) may be used:
- Incomplete Documentation: Use this code if documentation lacks specific location details.
- Early Diagnosis: When cellulitis is in its early stages and is not fully localized, the unspecified code can be a placeholder.
Documentation Tips for Billing Cellulitis ICD-10
To ensure claims are approved:
- Document site & laterality (e.g., left leg vs. right foot)
- Capture severity (abscess, necrosis, systemic infection)
- Note underlying risk factors (e.g., diabetes, lymphedema)
- Specify treatment provided (oral/IV antibiotics, hospital admission)
Common Mistakes in Cellulitis ICD-10 Coding
- Using L03.90 unnecessarily – Leads to payer denials.
- Not linking to medical necessity – Missing ICD-10 support for antibiotic therapy.
- Overlooking comorbidities – Example: coding cellulitis in diabetic patients without adding E11.621 (diabetic foot ulcer).
According to the CDC (2025 update), cellulitis accounts for 14 million outpatient visits annually in the U.S., highlighting why correct documentation and coding are critical for practices of all sizes.
Conclusion
Correctly coding cellulitis ICD-10 ensures smoother claim approvals, reduces costly denials, and supports accurate patient records. With cellulitis contributing to millions of outpatient visits annually, compliance in coding is non-negotiable in 2025.
At Express Medical Billing Services, we help providers stay ahead of ICD-10 updates, payer rules, and documentation standards. Contact us today for a free billing audit and prevent revenue loss due to coding errors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The general ICD-10 code for cellulitis is L03.90 – Cellulitis, unspecified. For accurate billing, always code by location and laterality (e.g., L03.116 for cellulitis of left leg).
The correct code is L03.116 – Cellulitis of left lower limb. This includes cellulitis of the left foot, ankle, and thigh.
Bilateral lower extremity cellulitis is coded as L03.113. The sixth digit “3” signifies bilateral involvement. Documentation must clearly state “both legs” or “bilateral” to support this code.
Facial cellulitis is coded as L03.211 – Cellulitis of face.
Use L03.116 – Cellulitis of left lower extremity if the site is the left foot.
Use L03.119 – Cellulitis of unspecified part of the bilateral lower extremities.
No. ICD-10 codes L03.115 and L03.116 cover cellulitis of the entire lower limb, including the foot. Separate coding for foot vs. leg is not required.
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