Is K20.8 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No. K20.8 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.

Where does K20.8 sit in the tabular list?

Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K95), in the block Diseases of esophagus, stomach and duodenum (K20-K31).

What cannot be coded together with K20.8?

K20.8 carries Excludes1 notes, which means the conditions they list can never be coded together with it on the same encounter. Some are written on the categories above K20.8 (K20) and apply to it just the same.

K20.8

K20.8 — Other esophagitis

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

K20.8 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for other esophagitis. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below.

Excludes1 inherited from the categories above K20.8

These are not written on K20.8, but they bind it: a note on a category applies to every code beneath it. Billing K20.8 with anything listed here is a denial.

Written on K20 — Esophagitis

erosion of esophagus (K22.1-)
esophagitis with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (K21.0-)
reflux esophagitis (K21.0-)
ulcerative esophagitis (K22.1-)

Excludes2 inherited from the categories above K20.8

Also inherited, and the opposite of Excludes1: these conditions are not part of K20.8, but a patient can have both, so you may code both.

Written on K20 — Esophagitis

eosinophilic gastritis or gastroenteritis (K52.81)

Risk adjustment

K20.8 does not map to an HCC and does not risk-adjust under CMS-HCC V28. That is normal — most ICD-10 codes do not. It still needs to be coded correctly; it just will not move a RAF score.

Code history

K20.8 has not changed since FY2024 — no addition, revision or deletion across the three most recent ICD-10-CM releases.

Code to one of these instead K20.8

2 child codes. Green means billable.

Related codes at this level

Codes that share K20. If K20.8 is not quite right, the correct code is usually one of these.

Questions about K20.8

Is K20.8 a billable ICD-10-CM code?: No. K20.8 is a non-billable header code. Code to a higher level of specificity using one of its child codes.
Where does K20.8 sit in the tabular list?: Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K95), in the block Diseases of esophagus, stomach and duodenum (K20-K31).
What cannot be coded together with K20.8?: K20.8 carries Excludes1 notes, which means the conditions they list can never be coded together with it on the same encounter. Some are written on the categories above K20.8 (K20) and apply to it just the same.