J3260 HCPCS code: Injection, tobramycin sulfate, up to 80 mg
J3260 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, tobramycin sulfate, up to 80 mg. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $1.86 per service for J3260 across 28,258 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 12 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume rose 24% from 2022 to 2024 (22,755 to 28,258 services). In 2024, about 700 clinicians billed Medicare for J3260 for 7,204 beneficiaries; California, New York, New Jersey accounted for 64% 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 | 1997-01-01 |
Who bills J3260 (2024)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Clinicians billing (by place of service) | 700 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 7,204 |
| States with claims | 29 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (California, New York, New Jersey) | 64% |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for J3260, 2022–2024
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 22,755 | 8,659 | $2.60 | $2.03 |
| 2023 | 21,795 | 8,508 | $2.51 | $1.94 |
| 2024 | 28,258 | 7,204 | $2.38 | $1.86 |
States with the most J3260 services (2024)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| California | 14,768 | $1.87 |
| New York | 1,775 | $1.84 |
| New Jersey | 1,443 | $1.86 |
| Florida | 1,437 | $1.94 |
| Arizona | 1,313 | $1.90 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 12 | Clinical: Data |
| practitioner claims | 8 | Clinical: Data |
What changed for J3260
- 1982-01-01: J3260 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 J3260?
J3260 is the HCPCS Level II code for injection, tobramycin sulfate, up to 80 mg. Short descriptor: "Tobramycin sulfate injection".
How much does Medicare pay for J3260?
In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $1.86 per service (average allowed $2.38).
Does Medicare cover J3260?
Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.
How many units of J3260 can be billed per day?
12 on outpatient hospital claims; 8 on practitioner claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related J32 codes
- J3230 — Injection, chlorpromazine hcl, up to 50 mg
- J3240 — Injection, thyrotropin alpha, 0.9 mg, provided in 1.1 mg vial
- J3241 — Injection, teprotumumab-trbw, 10 mg
- J3243 — Injection, tigecycline, 1 mg
- J3244 — Injection, tigecycline (accord), not therapeutically equivalent to j3243, 1 mg
- J3245 — Injection, tildrakizumab, 1 mg
- J3246 — Injection, tirofiban hcl, 0.25 mg
- J3247 — Injection, secukinumab, intravenous, 1 mg
- J3250 — Injection, trimethobenzamide hcl, up to 200 mg
- J3262 — Injection, tocilizumab, 1 mg
- J3263 — Injection, toripalimab-tpzi, 1 mg
- J3265 — Injection, torsemide, 10 mg/ml
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Next steps
- Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under J3260
- Watch J3260 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for J3260
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.