Summary & Overview
HCPCS J0770: Colistimethate Sodium Injection, up to 150 mg
HCPCS Level II code J0770 denotes an injection of colistimethate sodium up to 150 mg, a parenteral antibiotic used in serious gram-negative infections where other agents may be ineffective. Nationally, accurate coding for injectable antimicrobials affects drug billing, hospital pharmacy reimbursement, and antimicrobial stewardship reporting. This code is relevant to acute care settings that administer parenteral antimicrobials, including hospitals, emergency departments, and infusion centers.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for J0770, common billing considerations, and the types of benchmarks and policy items typically reviewed for HCPCS drug codes—such as allowed amounts, utilization patterns, and prior authorization trends. The publication outlines where J0770 is commonly used in care delivery, the implications for facility billing lines, and the operational elements billing professionals should expect when processing claims for injectable colistimethate sodium.
The content provides national-level context rather than state-specific guidance and identifies gaps where input data was not provided. Information on modifiers, detailed payer-specific rates, and associated diagnosis codes is noted as not available in the input where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code J0770 represents an injection of colistimethate sodium, up to 150 mg. This code describes a parenteral antimicrobial administration using colistimethate sodium, typically delivered by intramuscular or intravenous injection depending on clinical protocol.
Service Type: Antimicrobial injection / parenteral drug administration
Typical Site of Service: Hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, emergency department, or other acute care settings where injectable antimicrobials are administered
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult with a multidrug‑resistant Gram‑negative pulmonary or urinary tract infection requiring parenteral colistimethate sodium for systemic therapy. The patient often has prior antibiotic exposure and culture/susceptibility results demonstrating sensitivity to polymyxins (colistin). The clinical workflow includes: initial physician assessment and review of microbiology, ordering of J0770 for colistimethate sodium (dosed and supplied in 150 mg vials), verification of allergies and renal function, pharmacy compounding and dose calculation (adjusted for renal impairment and ideal body weight), administration by intravenous infusion or intermittent IV bolus in an inpatient ward, observation for immediate infusion reactions, and ongoing monitoring of renal function and neurologic status during therapy. Typical sites of service are inpatient acute care hospital, long‑term acute care hospital, outpatient infusion center, and skilled nursing facility when parenteral therapy is clinically indicated. Documentation elements include indication, dose and lot number, route, date/time of administration, compounder and administering clinician, and any adverse events or modifier documentation for billing adjustments.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Standard; no modifier | Use when no specific modifier applies and services are billed as usual |