J1955 HCPCS code: Injection, levocarnitine, per 1 gm
J1955 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, levocarnitine, per 1 gm. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $21.90 per service for J1955 across 123,713 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 11 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume fell 74% from 2022 to 2024 (478,326 to 123,713 services). In 2024, about 86 clinicians billed Medicare for J1955 for 1,552 beneficiaries; Florida, Oklahoma, California accounted for 75% 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 | 1996-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 1997-01-01 |
Who bills J1955 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 86 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 1,552 |
| States with claims | 13 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Florida, Oklahoma, California) | 75% |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for J1955, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 478,326 | 6,692 | $23.14 | $18.30 |
| 2023 | 187,720 | 2,943 | $29.88 | $24.49 |
| 2024 | 123,713 | 1,552 | $27.72 | $21.90 |
States with the most J1955 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | 43,775 | $17.72 |
| Oklahoma | 38,801 | $25.01 |
| California | 9,722 | $20.63 |
| Virginia | 8,694 | $25.98 |
| Nevada | 4,860 | $25.50 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 11 | Prescribing Information |
| practitioner claims | 11 | Prescribing Information |
What changed for J1955
- 1996-01-01: J1955 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 J1955?
J1955 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, levocarnitine, per 1 gm. Short descriptor: "Inj levocarnitine per 1 gm".
How much does Medicare pay for J1955?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $21.90 per service (average allowed $27.72).
Does Medicare cover J1955?
Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.
How many units of J1955 can be billed per day?
11 on outpatient hospital claims; 11 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related J19 codes
- J1920 — Injection, labetalol hydrochloride, 5 mg
- J1921 — Injection, labetalol hydrochloride (hikma), not therapeutically equivalent to j1920, 5 mg
- J1930 — Injection, lanreotide, 1 mg
- J1931 — Injection, laronidase, 0.1 mg
- J1932 — Injection, lanreotide, (cipla), 1 mg
- J1938 — Injection, furosemide, 1 mg
- J1939 — Injection, bumetanide, 0.5 mg
- J1940 — Injection, furosemide, up to 20 mg
- J1941 — Injection, furosemide (furoscix), 20 mg
- J1942 — Injection, aripiprazole lauroxil, 1 mg
- J1943 — Injection, aripiprazole lauroxil, (aristada initio), 1 mg
- J1944 — Injection, aripiprazole lauroxil, (aristada), 1 mg
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 J1955
- Watch J1955 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for J1955
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.