J2540 HCPCS code: Injection, penicillin g potassium, up to 600,000 units
J2540 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, penicillin g potassium, up to 600,000 units. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $0.67 per service for J2540 across 19,829 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 75 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume fell 31% from 2022 to 2024 (28,674 to 19,829 services). In 2024, about 79 clinicians billed Medicare for J2540 for 142 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 | 1982-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 1997-01-01 |
Who bills J2540 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 79 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 142 |
| States with claims | 4 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for J2540, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 28,674 | 110 | $0.75 | $0.59 |
| 2023 | 29,342 | 124 | $0.84 | $0.67 |
| 2024 | 19,829 | 142 | $0.85 | $0.67 |
States with the most J2540 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 4,075 | $0.68 |
| Florida | 716 | $0.65 |
| Minnesota | 109 | $0.67 |
| New York | 34 | $0.71 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 75 | Prescribing Information |
| practitioner claims | 75 | Prescribing Information |
What changed for J2540
- 1982-01-01: J2540 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 J2540?
J2540 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, penicillin g potassium, up to 600,000 units. Short descriptor: "Penicillin g potassium inj".
How much does Medicare pay for J2540?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $0.67 per service (average allowed $0.85).
Does Medicare cover J2540?
Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.
How many units of J2540 can be billed per day?
75 on outpatient hospital claims; 75 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related J25 codes
- J2501 — Injection, paricalcitol, 1 mcg
- J2502 — Injection, pasireotide long acting, 1 mg
- J2503 — Injection, pegaptanib sodium, 0.3 mg
- J2504 — Injection, pegademase bovine, 25 iu
- J2505 — Injection, pegfilgrastim, 6 mg
- J2506 — Injection, pegfilgrastim, excludes biosimilar, 0.5 mg
- J2507 — Injection, pegloticase, 1 mg
- J2508 — Injection, pegunigalsidase alfa-iwxj, 1 mg
- J2510 — Injection, penicillin g procaine, aqueous, up to 600,000 units
- J2513 — Injection, pentastarch, 10% solution, 100 ml
- J2515 — Injection, pentobarbital sodium, per 50 mg
- J2543 — Injection, piperacillin sodium/tazobactam sodium, 1 gram/0.125 grams (1.125 grams)
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Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under J2540
- Watch J2540 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for J2540
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.