J0687 HCPCS code: Injection, cefazolin sodium (wg critical care), not therapeutically equivalent to j0690, 500 mg
J0687 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, cefazolin sodium (wg critical care), not therapeutically equivalent to j0690, 500 mg. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $0.81 per service for J0687 across 64 services. Its Medicare coverage code is D (Special coverage instructions apply): Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met. The NCCI unit limit is 16 per day on DME suppliers. In 2024, about 6 clinicians billed Medicare for J0687 for 29 beneficiaries.
Code details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Section | J codes — Drugs administered other than oral method |
| Coverage code | D — Special coverage instructions apply |
| Pricing indicator | 51 — Drug or biological (priced per ASP/average sales price rules) |
| BETOS category | O1E — Other drugs |
| Added | 2024-07-01 |
| Last action effective | 2024-07-01 |
Who bills J0687 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 6 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 29 |
| States with claims | 1 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for J0687, 2024–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 64 | 29 | $1.02 | $0.81 |
States with the most J0687 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 64 | $0.81 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 16 | CMS Policy |
| outpatient hospital claims | 16 | CMS Policy |
| practitioner claims | 16 | CMS Policy |
What changed for J0687
- 2024-07-01: J0687 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 J0687?
J0687 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, cefazolin sodium (wg critical care), not therapeutically equivalent to j0690, 500 mg. Short descriptor: "Inj cefazolin (wg crit care)".
How much does Medicare pay for J0687?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $0.81 per service (average allowed $1.02).
Does Medicare cover J0687?
Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.
How many units of J0687 can be billed per day?
16 on DME suppliers; 16 on outpatient hospital claims; 16 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related J06 codes
- J0600 — Injection, edetate calcium disodium, up to 1000 mg
- J0601 — Sevelamer carbonate (renvela or therapeutically equivalent), oral, 20 mg (for esrd on dialysis)
- J0602 — Sevelamer carbonate (renvela or therapeutically equivalent), oral, powder, 20 mg (for esrd on dialysis)
- J0603 — Sevelamer hydrochloride (renagel or therapeutically equivalent), oral, 20 mg (for esrd on dialysis)
- J0604 — Cinacalcet, oral, 1 mg, (for esrd on dialysis)
- J0605 — Sucroferric oxyhydroxide, oral, 5 mg (for esrd on dialysis)
- J0606 — Injection, etelcalcetide, 0.1 mg
- J0607 — Lanthanum carbonate, oral, 5 mg (for esrd on dialysis)
- J0608 — Lanthanum carbonate, oral, powder, 5 mg, not therapeutically equivalent to j0607 (for esrd on dialysis)
- J0609 — Ferric citrate, oral, 3 mg ferric iron, (for esrd on dialysis)
- J0610 — Injection, calcium gluconate (fresenius kabi), per 10 ml
- J0611 — Injection, calcium gluconate (wg critical care), per 10 ml
Building a device that would bill under a code like this? Caduvo matches a device description to HCPCS/CPT codes, Medicare coverage and payment, and the FDA pathway in one report.
Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under J0687
- Watch J0687 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for J0687
Sources: CMS HCPCS Level II release October 2025; 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.