K21
Non-billableGastro-esophageal reflux disease
K21 is the ICD-10-CM code for Gastro-esophageal reflux disease. It is a non-billable category code — use a more specific child code such as K21.0 for billing.
- Status
- Header (non-billable)
- Chapter
- K00-K95
- Subcodes
- 2
- Edition
- FY2026
K00-K95 Diseases of the digestive system
What this means — in plain language
MedlinePlus · NIHWhat is GERD? Sometimes, after eating a large meal or lying down too soon after eating, you might feel acid coming up into your throat. This is called gastroesophageal reflux (GER). It happens when the muscle at the end of your esophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach) doesn't close properly. Stomach contents can then move back up and irritate the esophagus. Having reflux occasionally is…
Read more about GERD at MedlinePlus ↗Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). Informational only — not medical advice.
Excludes1 — not coded here
- •newborn esophageal reflux (P78.83)
Medications indicated for this condition
FDA labeling- Pantoprazole›
- Esomeprazole›
- Sodium BicarbonateProton Pump Inhibitor [EPC]›
- FamotidineHistamine-2 Receptor Antagonist [EPC]›
- Rabeprazole›
- LansoprazoleProton Pump Inhibitor [EPC]›
- OmeprazoleProton Pump Inhibitor [EPC]›
- DexlansoprazoleProton Pump Inhibitor [EPC]›
- Ranitidine›
- CimetidineHistamine-2 Receptor Antagonist [EPC]›
- Esomeprazole Magnesium Delayed Release Capsules›
- Omeprazole/sodiium BicarbonateProton Pump Inhibitor [EPC]›
Drugs whose FDA labeling lists this condition's category among its indications. Informational only — not a treatment recommendation or medical advice.
Conditions mapped to this code
MedlinePlus · NIHPlain-language health-topic references grounded in MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM).
Frequently asked questions
- What is ICD-10 code K21?
- K21 is the ICD-10-CM code for "Gastro-esophageal reflux disease". It falls under K00-K95 Diseases of the digestive system.
- Is K21 a billable code?
- No — K21 is a non-billable header code. Use a more specific child code (such as K21.0) for billing.
- What is excluded from K21?
- Excludes1 (not coded here): newborn esophageal reflux (P78.83).
Source: CMS ICD-10-CM FY2026. For informational purposes only — not medical advice. See our medical disclaimer.
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