ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin, Scalp: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group 0H50 includes procedures performed to destroy all or a portion of the skin or scalp. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when destruction of skin or scalp tissue is performed using energy, force, or a destructive agent to remove lesions or diseased tissue. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS 0H50 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the procedure performed and determines appropriate case mix and payment.

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Skin, Scalp Destruction Procedure Overview

This procedure group includes destruction of skin and scalp tissue by direct use of energy, force, or a destructive agent and targets the skin and breast body system. Procedures in this group remove or destroy all or part of the skin or scalp for therapeutic or diagnostic reasons. Accurate ICD-10-PCS coding matters for inpatient reimbursement because it documents the exact operation and anatomical site, which affects case mix and payment.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
H	Body System	Skin and Breast
5	Operation	Destruction
0	Body Part	Skin, Scalp

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin, Scalp: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Skin, Scalp Destruction Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
H	Body System	Skin and Breast
5	Operation	Destruction
0	Body Part	Skin, Scalp

When to Use

Use a code from this group when an inpatient procedure intentionally destroys skin or scalp tissue by direct application of energy, force, or a destructive agent. These codes apply when the primary operative action is destruction rather than excision, repair, or other types of procedures.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

2 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0H50XZD	Destruction of Scalp Skin, Multiple, External Approach
0H50XZZ	Destruction of Scalp Skin, External Approach

DRG Codes

3 rows

DRG Code	Description
579	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with MCC
580	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with CC
581	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Elderly patient on anticoagulation presents with an expanding, friable scalp lesion that has bled intermittently and is suspected to be a rapidly growing keratinous tumor. Because bleeding and wound healing concerns require inpatient monitoring and hemostasis, the surgical team performs inpatient destruction of the visible scalp lesion using an energy-based destructive technique to remove the abnormal tissue while minimizing excision and blood loss. Typical codes: 0H50XZD, 0H50XZZ
Adult patient admitted electively for removal of multiple premalignant actinic keratoses across the scalp that are diffusely distributed and not amenable to simple excision; the procedure is scheduled to remove superficial diseased skin over a broad area for therapeutic benefit. Inpatient destruction of multiple scalp skin areas using a destructive agent (for example, chemical or ablative energy) is performed to eradicate the lesions and allow staged healing. Typical codes: 0H50XZD
Patient with a recurrent scalp lesion previously treated by excision now has persistent superficial disease limited to the scalp skin; due to prior surgery and scar tissue, the team opts for an inpatient destructive procedure to eradicate residual diseased skin rather than re-excising deeper tissue. The operation targets scalp skin destruction under controlled inpatient conditions to treat the recurrence while avoiding more extensive resection. Typical codes: 0H50XZZ

Related Codes

0H51-SKIN-FACE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin Face: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H52-SKIN-RIGHT-EAR-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin Right Ear: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H53-LEFT-EAR-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Ear Skin: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H54-SKIN-NECK-PHYSICAL-ERADICATION-SKIN-NECK-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin Neck: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H55-CHEST-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Chest: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H56-SKIN-BACK-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin, Back: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H57-SKIN-ABDOMEN-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin Abdomen: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H58-SKIN-BUTTOCK-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin, Buttock: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H59-SKIN-PERINEUM-PHYSICAL-ERADICATION-SKIN-PERINEUM-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin Perineum: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H5A-INGUINAL-SKIN-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin, Inguinal: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 29

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

2 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0H50XZD	Destruction of Scalp Skin, Multiple, External Approach
0H50XZZ	Destruction of Scalp Skin, External Approach

DRG Codes

3 rows

DRG Code	Description
579	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with MCC
580	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with CC
581	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Elderly patient on anticoagulation presents with an expanding, friable scalp lesion that has bled intermittently and is suspected to be a rapidly growing keratinous tumor. Because bleeding and wound healing concerns require inpatient monitoring and hemostasis, the surgical team performs inpatient destruction of the visible scalp lesion using an energy-based destructive technique to remove the abnormal tissue while minimizing excision and blood loss. Typical codes: 0H50XZD, 0H50XZZ
Adult patient admitted electively for removal of multiple premalignant actinic keratoses across the scalp that are diffusely distributed and not amenable to simple excision; the procedure is scheduled to remove superficial diseased skin over a broad area for therapeutic benefit. Inpatient destruction of multiple scalp skin areas using a destructive agent (for example, chemical or ablative energy) is performed to eradicate the lesions and allow staged healing. Typical codes: 0H50XZD
Patient with a recurrent scalp lesion previously treated by excision now has persistent superficial disease limited to the scalp skin; due to prior surgery and scar tissue, the team opts for an inpatient destructive procedure to eradicate residual diseased skin rather than re-excising deeper tissue. The operation targets scalp skin destruction under controlled inpatient conditions to treat the recurrence while avoiding more extensive resection. Typical codes: 0H50XZZ

Related Codes

0H51-SKIN-FACE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin Face: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H52-SKIN-RIGHT-EAR-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin Right Ear: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H53-LEFT-EAR-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Ear Skin: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H54-SKIN-NECK-PHYSICAL-ERADICATION-SKIN-NECK-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin Neck: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H55-CHEST-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Chest: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H56-SKIN-BACK-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin, Back: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H57-SKIN-ABDOMEN-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin Abdomen: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H58-SKIN-BUTTOCK-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin, Buttock: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H59-SKIN-PERINEUM-PHYSICAL-ERADICATION-SKIN-PERINEUM-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin Perineum: Procedure Code Group Overview

0H5A-INGUINAL-SKIN-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin, Inguinal: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 29

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin, Scalp: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin, Scalp: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Skin, Scalp Destruction Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin, Scalp: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Skin, Scalp: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Skin, Scalp Destruction Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in ICD-10-PCS code group 0H50?

What are the specific ICD-10-PCS codes listed in this group?

Why is accurate coding within the 0H50 group important for inpatient care?

Under which ICD-10-PCS section and body system do these destruction procedures fall?

Which DRGs are related to procedures in the 0H50 group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in ICD-10-PCS code group 0H50?

What are the specific ICD-10-PCS codes listed in this group?

Why is accurate coding within the 0H50 group important for inpatient care?

Under which ICD-10-PCS section and body system do these destruction procedures fall?

Which DRGs are related to procedures in the 0H50 group?

References