J8540 HCPCS code: Dexamethasone, oral, 0.25 mg

J8540 is the HCPCS Level II code for dexamethasone, oral, 0.25 mg. In 2024 Medicare paid an average of $0.04 per service for J8540 across 3,832 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 216 per day on DME suppliers. Medicare volume fell 87% from 2022 to 2024 (28,628 to 3,832 services). In 2024, 8 suppliers billed Medicare for J8540 (purchases), serving 18 beneficiaries.

Code details

Who bills J8540 (2024)

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

Medicare utilization for J8540, 2022–2024

States with the most J8540 services (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 J8540

• 2006-01-01: J8540 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 J8540?

J8540 is the HCPCS Level II code for dexamethasone, oral, 0.25 mg. Short descriptor: "Oral dexamethasone".

How much does Medicare pay for J8540?

In 2024, the average Medicare payment was $0.04 per service (average allowed $0.05).

Does Medicare cover J8540?

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

Which diagnoses support coverage for J8540?

Medicare policy articles that cite J8540 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 J8540 can be billed per day?

216 on DME suppliers; 80 on outpatient hospital claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).

Related J85 codes

• J8501 — Aprepitant, oral, 5 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
• J8541 — Dexamethasone (hemady), oral, 0.25 mg
• J8560 — Etoposide; oral, 50 mg
• J8562 — Fludarabine phosphate, oral, 10 mg
• J8565 — Gefitinib, oral, 250 mg
• J8597 — Antiemetic drug, oral, not otherwise specified

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Next steps

• Run a reimbursement report for a device billed under J8540
• Watch J8540 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
• Build a full Medicare revenue model for J8540

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.

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