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ICD-10 Coding for Excoriation of Skin(F42.4, L98.1)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Excoriation of Skin. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Skin Picking DisorderDermatillomaniaNeurotic Excoriation

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Excoriation of Skin

F42-F48Primary Range

Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders

Includes excoriation disorder as a mental health condition.

Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue

Includes skin conditions resulting from excoriation.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
F42.4Excoriation (skin-picking) disorderUse when skin picking is due to a mental health disorder meeting DSM-5 criteria.
  • Recurrent skin picking despite attempts to stop
  • Lesions cause significant distress or impairment
  • No improvement with dermatologic treatments alone
L98.1Factitial dermatitisUse when lesions are self-inflicted but do not meet OCD criteria.
  • Intentional skin damage without psychiatric diagnosis

Clinical Decision Support

Always review the patient's clinical documentation thoroughly. When in doubt, choose the more specific code and ensure documentation supports it.

Key Information: ICD-10 code for excoriation disorder

Essential facts and insights about Excoriation of Skin

The ICD-10 code for excoriation disorder is F42.4, applicable when skin picking meets DSM-5 criteria.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for excoriation of skin

Excoriation (skin-picking) disorder
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Patient meets DSM-5 criteria for excoriation disorder.

Applicable To

  • Recurrent skin picking resulting in skin lesions

Excludes

  • Self-inflicted skin lesions without OCD criteria

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Recurrent skin picking despite attempts to stop
  • Lesions cause significant distress or impairment
  • No improvement with dermatologic treatments alone

Code-Specific Risks

  • Misclassification if psychiatric criteria are not met

Coding Notes

  • Ensure documentation supports psychiatric diagnosis.

Ancillary Codes

Additional codes that should be used in conjunction with the main diagnosis codes when applicable.

Other problems related to lifestyle

Z72.89
Use to indicate lifestyle factors contributing to the disorder.

Other specified personal risk factors, not elsewhere classified

Z91.89
Use to indicate risk factors contributing to the condition.

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions to the primary diagnosis.

Factitial dermatitis

L98.1
Use when lesions are self-inflicted without meeting OCD criteria.

Excoriation (skin-picking) disorder

F42.4
Use when psychiatric criteria for OCD are met.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Excoriation of Skin to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code F42.4.

Impact

Clinical: Misdiagnosis risk, Regulatory: Non-compliance with coding standards, Financial: Potential claim denials

Mitigation Strategy

Detail psychiatric criteria, Include impact on daily life

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect coding may lead to denied claims., Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Data Quality: Inaccurate clinical data representation.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure psychiatric criteria are documented for F42.4.

Impact

Lack of detailed psychiatric evaluation for F42.4.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure DSM-5 criteria are documented.

Documentation errors, coding pitfalls, and audit risks are interconnected aspects of medical coding and billing. Addressing all three areas helps ensure accurate coding, optimal reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ICD-10 coding for Excoriation of Skin, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Excoriation of Skin

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Excoriation of Skin. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Psychiatric Evaluation for Skin Picking

Specialty: Psychiatry

Required Elements

  • Patient history
  • DSM-5 criteria assessment
  • Impact on daily life

Example Documentation

Patient reports picking skin daily, causing lesions. Attempts to stop have failed, leading to social withdrawal.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Patient has skin lesions.
Good Documentation Example
Patient picks skin daily, causing lesions. Attempts to stop have failed, leading to social withdrawal.
Explanation
The good example provides context and meets DSM-5 criteria.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Excoriation of Skin? Ask your questions below.

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