J1885 HCPCS code: Injection, ketorolac tromethamine, per 15 mg
J1885 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, ketorolac tromethamine, per 15 mg. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $0.48 per service for J1885 across 1,453,428 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 8 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume fell 15% from 2022 to 2024 (1,719,503 to 1,453,428 services). In 2024, about 72,027 clinicians billed Medicare for J1885 for 342,881 beneficiaries; California, Florida, Texas 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 | 1993-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2025-01-01 |
Who bills J1885 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 72,027 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 342,881 |
| States with claims | 56 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (California, Florida, Texas) | 33% |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for J1885, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1,719,503 | 393,325 | $0.56 | $0.41 |
| 2023 | 1,658,564 | 385,798 | $0.54 | $0.39 |
| 2024 | 1,453,428 | 342,881 | $0.65 | $0.48 |
States with the most J1885 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| California | 205,710 | $0.49 |
| Florida | 136,227 | $0.50 |
| Texas | 133,346 | $0.48 |
| Alabama | 86,013 | $0.46 |
| Mississippi | 80,775 | $0.47 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 8 | Prescribing Information |
| practitioner claims | 8 | Prescribing Information |
What changed for J1885
- 1993-01-01: J1885 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 J1885?
J1885 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, ketorolac tromethamine, per 15 mg. Short descriptor: "Ketorolac tromethamine inj".
How much does Medicare pay for J1885?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $0.48 per service (average allowed $0.65).
Does Medicare cover J1885?
Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.
How many units of J1885 can be billed per day?
8 on outpatient hospital claims; 8 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related J18 codes
- J1800 — Injection, propranolol hcl, up to 1 mg
- J1805 — Injection, esmolol hydrochloride, 10 mg
- J1806 — Injection, esmolol hydrochloride (wg critical care), not therapeutically equivalent to j1805, 10 mg
- J1807 — Injection, ethacrynate sodium, 1 mg
- J1808 — Injection, folic acid, 0.1 mg
- J1809 — Injection, fosdenopterin, 0.1 mg
- J1810 — Injection, droperidol and fentanyl citrate, up to 2 ml ampule
- J1811 — Insulin (fiasp) for administration through dme (i.e., insulin pump) per 50 units
- J1812 — Insulin (fiasp), per 5 units
- J1813 — Insulin (lyumjev) for administration through dme (i.e., insulin pump) per 50 units
- J1814 — Insulin (lyumjev), per 5 units
- J1815 — Injection, insulin, per 5 units
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 J1885
- Watch J1885 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for J1885
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.