Deep Tissue Injury Coding Policy Reminder

The International Classification of Disease Tenth Edition (ICD-10) released in July 2019 has been expanded to include codes for Deep tissue injury. From October 1, 2019-September 30, 2020 the following codes should be used.

L89006 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of unspecified elbow
L89016 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of right elbow
L89026 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of left
L89106 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of unspecified part of back
L89116 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of right upper back
L89126 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of left upper back
L89136 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of right lower back
L89146 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of left lower back
L89156 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of sacral region
L89206 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of unspecified hip
L89216 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of right hip
L89226 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of left
L89306 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of unspecified buttock
L89316 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of right buttock
L89326 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of left buttock
L8946 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of contiguous site of back, buttock and hip
L89506 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of unspecified ankle
L89516 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of right ankle
L89526 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of left ankle
L89606 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of unspecified heel
L89616 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of right heel
L89626 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of left heel
L89816 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of head
L89896 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of other site
L8996 Pressure-induced deep tissue damage of unspecified site

For additional information, visit www.cms.gov.

What does this mean from a clinician’s point of view?

Previous to this change a DTPI was coded as unstageable. This complicated the clinical picture and plan of care as unstageable pressure injuries are often debrided then staged, unlike DTPI which are often not appropriate to debride when first detected. The new coding sets allow the distinct difference between unstageable and DTPI.