Dermatology Coding Alert

696.1 is out; L40.- will be in.

Although it is not exclusively a skin condition, the most common form of psoriasis, plaque psoriasis, manifests as red and white, scaly patches on the top layer of the skin. There are a few other varieties, however, and the ICD-9 diagnosis coding system does not do very much to distinguish between them. 

When ICD-10 comes into effect in 2015, you will no longer use ICD-9 code 696.1 (Other psoriasis and similar disorders) to describe psoriasis cases excluding psoriatic arthropathy. The new ICD-10 diagnosis codes will distinguish between specific dermatological psoriasis conditions:

• L40.0 — Psoriasis vulgaris (the most common type of psoriasis, also known as plaque psoriasis)
• L40.1 — Generalized pustular psoriasis
• L40.2 — Acrodermatitis continua (also known as dermatitis repens, acrodermatitis perstans, pustular acrodermatitis, acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau, acrodermatitis continua suppurativa Hallopeau, Hallopeau’s acrodermatitis, Hallopeau’s acrodermatitis continua, and dermatitis repens Crocker)
• L40.3 — Pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (pustulosis of the hands and soles)
• L40.4 — Guttate psoriasis
• L40.8 — Other psoriasis (including flexural psoriasis)
• L40.9 —  Psoriasis, unspecified

Don’t miss: ICD-10 has been delayed until 2015 — learn more in the next issue of Dermatology Coding Alert.