E87.21: Acute metabolic acidosis
E87.21, acute metabolic acidosis, is listed as a covered diagnosis in 8 Medicare billing and coding articles that apply to 8 HCPCS Level II codes, including G0480 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…), G0483 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…), G0482 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…). The articles come from 7 Medicare contractors. A listed diagnosis supports medical necessity only; coverage still depends on the LCD's criteria and on documentation in the medical record.
HCPCS Level II codes with E87.21 as a covered diagnosis
| Code | Description | Medicare coverage | DMEPOS fee 2026 (state range) | Articles listing it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G0480 | Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 1-7 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed | Carrier judgment | — | 7 |
| G0483 | Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 22 or more drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed | Carrier judgment | — | 7 |
| G0482 | Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 15-21 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed | Carrier judgment | — | 7 |
| G0481 | Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including, but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem and excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase)), (2) stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standards in all samples (e.g., to control for matrix effects, interferences and variations in signal strength), and (3) method or drug-specific calibration and matrix-matched quality control material (e.g., to control for instrument variations and mass spectral drift); qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day; 8-14 drug class(es), including metabolite(s) if performed | Carrier judgment | — | 7 |
| G0659 | Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug identification methods able to identify individual drugs and distinguish between structural isomers (but not necessarily stereoisomers), including but not limited to gc/ms (any type, single or tandem) and lc/ms (any type, single or tandem), excluding immunoassays (e.g., ia, eia, elisa, emit, fpia) and enzymatic methods (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase), performed without method or drug-specific calibration, without matrix-matched quality control material, or without use of stable isotope or other universally recognized internal standard(s) for each drug, drug metabolite or drug class per specimen; qualitative or quantitative, all sources, includes specimen validity testing, per day, any number of drug classes | Carrier judgment | — | 7 |
| G0238 | Therapeutic procedures to improve respiratory function, other than described by g0237, one on one, face to face, per 15 minutes (includes monitoring) | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G0237 | Therapeutic procedures to increase strength or endurance of respiratory muscles, face to face, one on one, each 15 minutes (includes monitoring) | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
| G0239 | Therapeutic procedures to improve respiratory function or increase strength or endurance of respiratory muscles, two or more individuals (includes monitoring) | Carrier judgment | — | 1 |
Medicare policy articles listing E87.21
- A57077: Billing and Coding: Controlled Substance Monitoring and Drugs of Abuse Testing (First Coast Service Options, Inc. (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L35006, L36393
- A55001: Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing (Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34645, L35724, L36029, L36668
- A56915: Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing (WPS Insurance Corporation (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34645, L35724, L36029, L36668
- A59416: Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing (Wellpoint Federal (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34645, L35724, L36029, L36668
- A54799: Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing (Palmetto GBA (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34645, L35724, L36029, L36668
- A56818: Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing (CGS Administrators, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34645, L35724, L36029, L36668
- A57224: Billing and Coding: Respiratory Care (Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 3 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L34149
- A56645: Billing and Coding: Controlled Substance Monitoring and Drugs of Abuse Testing (Novitas Solutions, Inc. (MAC - Part A, MAC - Part B); 5 Level II codes). LCD with the same title: L35006, L36393
A diagnosis listed as covered in a billing and coding article supports medical necessity for the article's codes; it does not guarantee payment. Coverage depends on the LCD's criteria, the contractor's jurisdiction and documentation in the medical record.
Other E87 diagnoses (Other disorders of fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance)
- E87.20 — Acidosis, unspecified
- E87.22 — Chronic metabolic acidosis
- E87.29 — Other acidosis
- E87.71 — Transfusion associated circulatory overload
- E87.79 — Other fluid overload
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicare cover E87.21 (Acute metabolic acidosis)?
Medicare covers items and services, not diagnoses. 8 Medicare billing and coding articles list E87.21 as a covered diagnosis for 8 HCPCS Level II codes: the diagnosis can support medical necessity for those codes, but payment still depends on the LCD's coverage criteria and the medical record.
Which HCPCS codes can be billed with ICD-10 E87.21?
The Level II codes from the policies most specific to this diagnosis are G0480 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 7 articles); G0483 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 7 articles); G0482 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 7 articles); G0481 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing (1) drug…, 7 articles); G0659 (Drug test(s), definitive, utilizing drug identification…, 7 articles). Code choice depends on the item supplied; check each code's descriptor.
Which Medicare policy articles list E87.21?
A57077 (Billing and Coding: Controlled Substance Monitoring and Drugs of Abuse Testing); A55001 (Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing); A56915 (Billing and Coding: Urine Drug Testing), and 5 more articles.
What is ICD-10-CM code E87.21?
E87.21 is the ICD-10-CM code for acute metabolic acidosis, in category E87 (Other disorders of fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance), chapter 4: Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases.
Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under G0480
- Watch G0480 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for G0480
Sources: CMS Medicare Coverage Database billing and coding articles (covered ICD-10 code lists and HCPCS links); ICD-10-CM FY2026; CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule 2026 (non-rural state fees). Not billing or legal advice.
Chapter 4: Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases · All diagnoses · HCPCS lookup