1. ICD-10-CM Codes
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2. K00-K95 Diseases of the digestive system
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3. K20-K31 Diseases of esophagus, stomach and duodenum
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4. K21- Gastro-esophageal reflux disease
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2020 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K21.9

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease without esophagitis

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Billable/Specific Code

• K21.9 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.
• The 2020 edition of ICD-10-CM K21.9 became effective on October 1, 2019.
• This is the American ICD-10-CM version of K21.9 - other international versions of ICD-10 K21.9 may differ.

• Esophageal reflux finding
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease co-occurrent and due to diaphragmatic hernia
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease co-occurrent and due to paraesophageal hernia
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease in pregnancy
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease with diaphragmatic hernia
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease with hiatal hernia
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease with paraesophageal hernia
• Gastroesophageal reflux in children
• Gastrointestinal reflux disease in pregnancy
• Gerd (gastro-esophageal reflux disease) (heartburn)
• Laryngitis due to gastroesophageal reflux
• Laryngopharyngeal reflux
• Reflux laryngitis

• A chronic disorder characterized by reflux of the gastric and/or duodenal contents into the distal esophagus. It is usually caused by incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter. Symptoms include heartburn and acid indigestion. It may cause injury to the esophageal mucosa.
• A disorder characterized by reflux of the gastric and/or duodenal contents into the distal esophagus. It is chronic in nature and usually caused by incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter, and may result in injury to the esophageal mucosal. Symptoms include heartburn and acid indigestion.
• Retrograde flow of gastric juice (gastric acid) and/or duodenal contents (bile acids; pancreatic juice) into the distal esophagus, commonly due to incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter.
• The backward flow of stomach acid contents into the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach).
• Your esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (gerd) happens when a muscle at the end of your esophagus does not close properly. This allows stomach contents to leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus and irritate it. You may feel a burning in the chest or throat called heartburn. Sometimes, you can taste stomach fluid in the back of the mouth. This is acid indigestion. If you have these symptoms more than twice a week, you may have gerd. Anyone, including infants and children, can have gerd. If not treated, it can lead to more serious health problems. In some cases, you might need medicines or surgery. However, many people can improve their symptoms by
  • avoiding alcohol and spicy, fatty or acidic foods that trigger heartburn
  • eating smaller meals
  • not eating close to bedtime
  • losing weight if needed
  • wearing loose-fitting clothes

• 391 Esophagitis, gastroenteritis and miscellaneous digestive disorders with mcc
• 392 Esophagitis, gastroenteritis and miscellaneous digestive disorders without mcc

Convert K21.9 to ICD-9-CM

• 2016 (effective 10/1/2015): New code (first year of non-draft ICD-10-CM)
• 2017 (effective 10/1/2016): No change
• 2018 (effective 10/1/2017): No change
• 2019 (effective 10/1/2018): No change
• 2020 (effective 10/1/2019): No change

• Allergy, allergic (reaction) (to) T78.40
  ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T78.40

  Allergy, unspecified

  2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Non-Billable/Non-Specific Code

  Applicable To

  • Allergic reaction NOS
  • Hypersensitivity NOS
  • milk protein Z91.011
    - see also Allergy, food
    ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z91.011

    Allergy to milk products

    2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Billable/Specific Code POA Exempt

    Type 1 Excludes

    • lactose intolerance (E73.-)
    • gastroesophageal reflux K21.9 - see also Reaction, adverse, food
• Cardiochalasia K21.9
• Chalasia K21.9 (cardiac sphincter)
• Disease, diseased - see also Syndrome
  • gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) K21.9
• GERD K21.9 (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• Reflux K21.9
  • esophageal K21.9
  • gastroesophageal K21.9
  • acid K21.9
• Relaxation
  • cardioesophageal K21.9

Reimbursement claims with a date of service on or after October 1, 2015 require the use of ICD-10-CM codes.