J0690 HCPCS code: Injection, cefazolin sodium, 500 mg
J0690 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, cefazolin sodium, 500 mg. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $0.62 per service for J0690 across 95,411 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. Medicare volume fell 28% from 2022 to 2024 (131,615 to 95,411 services). In 2024, about 2,096 clinicians billed Medicare for J0690 for 14,870 beneficiaries; Texas, Colorado, Florida accounted for 33% of services.
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 | 1982-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2000-01-01 |
Who bills J0690 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 2,096 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 14,870 |
| States with claims | 41 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Texas, Colorado, Florida) | 33% |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for J0690, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 131,615 | 15,428 | $0.86 | $0.68 |
| 2023 | 109,825 | 15,789 | $0.76 | $0.59 |
| 2024 | 95,411 | 14,870 | $0.78 | $0.62 |
States with the most J0690 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 12,356 | $0.62 |
| Colorado | 10,382 | $0.62 |
| Florida | 8,285 | $0.62 |
| California | 7,352 | $0.61 |
| New York | 6,331 | $0.61 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DME suppliers | 16 | Clinical: Society Comment |
| outpatient hospital claims | 16 | Clinical: Society Comment |
| practitioner claims | 16 | Clinical: Society Comment |
What changed for J0690
- 1982-01-01: J0690 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 J0690?
J0690 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, cefazolin sodium, 500 mg. Short descriptor: "Cefazolin sodium injection".
How much does Medicare pay for J0690?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $0.62 per service (average allowed $0.78).
Does Medicare cover J0690?
Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.
How many units of J0690 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 J0690
- Watch J0690 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for J0690
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.