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

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

Also known as:

Skin Picking DisorderDermatillomania

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Excoriation Disorder

F40-F48Primary Range

Anxiety, dissociative, stress-related, somatoform and other nonpsychotic mental disorders

This range includes excoriation disorder as a mental health condition characterized by compulsive skin picking.

Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue

This range includes dermatological conditions that may result from or be associated with skin picking.

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 compulsive and causes significant distress or impairment.
  • Recurrent skin picking resulting in skin lesions
  • Repeated attempts to decrease or stop skin picking
  • Significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning
L98.1Factitial dermatitisUse when skin lesions are self-inflicted without a compulsive psychological component.
  • Self-inflicted skin lesions without compulsive behavior

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 Disorder

The ICD-10 code for excoriation disorder is F42.4, used for compulsive skin picking causing distress or impairment.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for excoriation

Excoriation (skin-picking) disorder
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Presence of compulsive skin picking behavior

documentation Criteria

  • Documented distress or impairment due to skin picking

Applicable To

  • Compulsive skin picking

Excludes

  • Dermatitis artefacta (L98.1)

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Recurrent skin picking resulting in skin lesions
  • Repeated attempts to decrease or stop skin picking
  • Significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning

Code-Specific Risks

  • Misclassification if psychological component is not documented

Coding Notes

  • Ensure documentation supports the psychological aspect of the disorder.

Ancillary Codes

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

Local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified

L08.9
Use for infections resulting from skin picking.

Differential Codes

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

Factitial dermatitis

L98.1
Use when skin lesions are self-inflicted without a compulsive psychological component.

Excoriation (skin-picking) disorder

F42.4
Use when skin picking is compulsive and causes significant distress or impairment.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Excoriation Disorder 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 of the condition, Regulatory: Non-compliance with coding standards, Financial: Incorrect billing and reimbursement

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure comprehensive documentation of psychological symptoms.

Impact

Reimbursement: Potential for incorrect reimbursement rates, Compliance: Non-compliance with ICD-10 coding guidelines, Data Quality: Inaccurate clinical data representation

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure documentation includes psychological components such as compulsive behavior and distress.

Impact

Auditors may target cases where psychological aspects are not documented.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure thorough documentation of psychological symptoms and their impact.

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 Disorder, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Excoriation Disorder

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

Patient with compulsive skin picking and resulting lesions

Specialty: Psychiatry

Required Elements

  • History of present illness detailing picking behavior
  • Psychological evaluation results
  • Impact on daily functioning

Example Documentation

Patient reports daily skin picking episodes lasting 30 minutes, resulting in multiple lesions. Psychological evaluation indicates significant distress and impairment in social interactions.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Patient picks skin occasionally.
Good Documentation Example
Patient engages in daily skin picking for 30 minutes, leading to 10-15 lesions and significant distress.
Explanation
The good example provides specific details about frequency, duration, and impact, supporting the diagnosis.

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

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