J8501 HCPCS code: Aprepitant, oral, 5 mg

J8501 is the HCPCS Level II code for aprepitant, oral, 5 mg. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $2.75 per service for J8501 across 384 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 57 per day on DME suppliers. Medicare volume fell 73% from 2022 to 2024 (1,418 to 384 services). In 2024, 2 suppliers billed Medicare for J8501 (purchases), serving 0 beneficiaries.

Code details

Who bills J8501 (2024)

Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.

Medicare utilization for J8501, 2022–2024

NCCI unit limits (MUE)

Medicare policy articles for this code

• A52480: Oral Antiemetic Drugs (Replacement for Intravenous Antiemetics) - Policy Article (CGS Administrators, LLC (DME MAC) Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (DME MAC)) — mentions this code in its coding guidance

Covered diagnoses (1,280 ICD-10-CM codes)

The diagnoses most often listed as covered in the policy articles above:

Showing 10 of 1,280. The full list, non-covered diagnoses and CSV export are in Caduvo.

What changed for J8501

• 2005-01-01: J8501 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 J8501?

J8501 is the HCPCS Level II code for aprepitant, oral, 5 mg. Short descriptor: "Oral aprepitant".

How much does Medicare pay for J8501?

In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $2.75 per service (average allowed $3.51).

Does Medicare cover J8501?

Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.

Which diagnoses support coverage for J8501?

Medicare policy articles that cite J8501 list 1,280 covered ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes across 1 article. The most cited include C00.0 (Malignant neoplasm of external upper lip), C00.1 (Malignant neoplasm of external lower lip), C00.3 (Malignant neoplasm of upper lip, inner aspect). A listed diagnosis is necessary but not sufficient; the policy's other criteria still apply.

How many units of J8501 can be billed per day?

57 on DME suppliers; 57 on outpatient hospital claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).

Related J85 codes

• J8502 — Injection, aprepitant (aponvie), 1 mg
• J8510 — Busulfan; oral, 2 mg
• J8515 — Cabergoline, oral, 0.25 mg
• J8520 — Capecitabine, oral, 150 mg
• J8521 — Capecitabine, oral, 500 mg
• J8522 — Capecitabine, oral, 50 mg
• J8530 — Cyclophosphamide; oral, 25 mg
• J8540 — Dexamethasone, oral, 0.25 mg
• J8541 — Dexamethasone (hemady), oral, 0.25 mg
• J8560 — Etoposide; oral, 50 mg
• J8562 — Fludarabine phosphate, oral, 10 mg
• J8565 — Gefitinib, oral, 250 mg

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Next steps

• Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under J8501
• Watch J8501 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
• Build a full Medicare revenue model for J8501

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.

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