J0278 HCPCS code: Injection, amikacin sulfate, 100 mg
J0278 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, amikacin sulfate, 100 mg. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $0.61 per service for J0278 across 35,386 services. Its Medicare coverage code is C (Carrier judgment): Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case. The NCCI unit limit is 15 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume fell 4% from 2022 to 2024 (36,970 to 35,386 services). In 2024, about 406 clinicians billed Medicare for J0278 for 1,811 beneficiaries; Florida, New York, Texas accounted for 60% of services.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | J codes — Drugs administered other than oral method |
| Coverage code | C — Carrier judgment |
| Pricing indicator | 51 — Drug or biological (priced per ASP/average sales price rules) |
| BETOS category | O1E — Other drugs |
| Added | 2006-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2006-01-01 |
Who bills J0278 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 406 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 1,811 |
| States with claims | 13 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Florida, New York, Texas) | 60% |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for J0278, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 36,970 | 1,889 | $0.85 | $0.67 |
| 2023 | 33,666 | 1,736 | $0.89 | $0.70 |
| 2024 | 35,386 | 1,811 | $0.78 | $0.61 |
States with the most J0278 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 9,722 | $0.63 |
| New York | 5,406 | $0.63 |
| Texas | 3,877 | $0.62 |
| Georgia | 2,783 | $0.62 |
| California | 2,711 | $0.59 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 15 | Prescribing Information |
| practitioner claims | 15 | Prescribing Information |
What changed for J0278
- 2006-01-01: J0278 added to HCPCS Level II
- Next scheduled CMS quarterly update (HCPCS and DMEPOS fee schedule): 2027-01-01
Frequently asked questions
What is HCPCS code J0278?
J0278 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, amikacin sulfate, 100 mg. Short descriptor: "Amikacin sulfate injection".
How much does Medicare pay for J0278?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $0.61 per service (average allowed $0.78).
Does Medicare cover J0278?
Coverage code C — Carrier judgment. Coverage is decided by the Medicare contractor (MAC) case by case.
How many units of J0278 can be billed per day?
15 on outpatient hospital claims; 15 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related J02 codes
- J0200 — Injection, alatrofloxacin mesylate, 100 mg
- J0202 — Injection, alemtuzumab, 1 mg
- J0205 — Injection, alglucerase, per 10 units
- J0206 — Injection, allopurinol sodium, 1 mg
- J0207 — Injection, amifostine, 500 mg
- J0208 — Injection, sodium thiosulfate (pedmark), 100 mg
- J0209 — Injection, sodium thiosulfate (hope), 100 mg
- J0210 — Injection, methyldopate hcl, up to 250 mg
- J0211 — Injection, sodium nitrite 3 mg and sodium thiosulfate 125 mg (nithiodote)
- J0215 — Injection, alefacept, 0.5 mg
- J0216 — Injection, alfentanil hydrochloride, 500 micrograms
- J0217 — Injection, velmanase alfa-tycv, 1 mg
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Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under J0278
- Watch J0278 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for J0278
Sources: CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2026; CMS DMEPOS fee schedule; CMS NCCI MUE tables; CMS Medicare utilization (physician and DME supplier files); CMS Medicare Coverage Database articles. Fees are Medicare allowables, not commercial rates. Not billing or legal advice.