J8600 HCPCS code: Melphalan; oral, 2 mg
J8600 is the HCPCS Level II code for melphalan; oral, 2 mg. In 2023 Medicare paid an average of $7.27 per service for J8600 across 4,745 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 40 per day on outpatient hospital claims. Medicare volume fell 51% from 2022 to 2023 (9,596 to 4,745 services). In 2023, 54 suppliers billed Medicare for J8600 (purchases), serving 67 beneficiaries; Ohio, Tennessee, Florida accounted for 71% 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 | O1D — Chemotherapy |
| Added | 1995-01-01 |
| Last action effective | 2024-01-01 |
Who bills J8600 (2023)
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Suppliers billing rentals | — |
| Suppliers billing purchases | 54 |
| Referring clinicians | 67 |
| Medicare beneficiaries | 67 |
| States with claims | 5 |
| Share of services in top 3 states (Ohio, Tennessee, Florida) | 71% |
| Year | Suppliers | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 77 | 99 |
| 2023 | 54 | 67 |
Counts only. Supplier and clinician names, contact lists and state-by-state detail are in Caduvo.
Medicare utilization for J8600, 2022–2023
| Year | Services | Beneficiaries | Avg. allowed | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 9,596 | 99 | $9.26 | $7.08 |
| 2023 | 4,745 | 67 | $9.53 | $7.27 |
States with the most J8600 services (2023)
| State | Services | Avg. paid |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 532 | $7.46 |
| Tennessee | 469 | $7.17 |
| Florida | 444 | $7.05 |
| Pennsylvania | 307 | $7.12 |
| Kentucky | 272 | $7.61 |
NCCI unit limits (MUE)
| Claim type | Max units per day | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| outpatient hospital claims | 40 | Prescribing Information |
What changed for J8600
- 1995-01-01: J8600 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 J8600?
J8600 is the HCPCS Level II code for melphalan; oral, 2 mg. Short descriptor: "Melphalan oral 2 mg".
How much does Medicare pay for J8600?
In 2023, the average Medicare payment was $7.27 per service (average allowed $9.53).
Does Medicare cover J8600?
Coverage code D — Special coverage instructions apply. Medicare covers it when its national or local coverage criteria are met.
How many units of J8600 can be billed per day?
40 on outpatient hospital claims (NCCI medically unlikely edits).
Related J86 codes
- J8610 — Methotrexate; oral, 2.5 mg
- J8611 — Methotrexate (jylamvo), oral, 2.5 mg
- J8612 — Methotrexate (xatmep), oral, 2.5 mg
- J8650 — Nabilone, oral, 1 mg
- J8655 — Netupitant 300 mg and palonosetron 0.5 mg, oral
- J8670 — Rolapitant, oral, 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 J8600
- Watch J8600 for fee, coverage and descriptor changes
- Build a full Medicare revenue model for J8600
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.