Summary & Overview
HCPCS Level II J1611: Glucagon Hydrochloride Injection (Fresenius Kabi)
HCPCS Level II code J1611 denotes a per-milligram injectable dose of glucagon hydrochloride (Fresenius Kabi), identified as not therapeutically equivalent to J1610. This code is relevant nationally for billing acute hypoglycemia treatment and other clinical scenarios requiring parenteral glucagon. Its proper use ensures accurate product identification, supports formulary and supply-chain tracking, and affects payment and inventory reconciliation for facilities that administer this specific manufacturer’s product.
Key payers in the national analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication outlines how J1611 is billed across facility settings, what benchmarks and payer coverage considerations apply, and how the code interfaces with clinical indications for injectable glucagon.
Readers will learn the clinical context for the code, typical sites of service where the product is used, common billing modifiers associated with injectable drugs (listed elsewhere in the full publication), and where to find related billing and policy guidance. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code J1611 describes an injection of glucagon hydrochloride (Fresenius Kabi), not therapeutically equivalent to J1610, per 1 mg. This code is used to bill for the specific glucagon formulation produced by Fresenius Kabi when administered as an injectable medication.
Service type: Injectable medication administration of glucagon hydrochloride.
Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient and outpatient settings, emergency departments, and other acute care facilities where injectable antihypoglycemic therapy is provided.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult with severe hypoglycemia who presents to an emergency department, urgent care clinic, or skilled nursing facility with altered mental status and blood glucose too low for safe oral intake. The clinician prepares and administers J1611 (glucagon hydrochloride injection, per 1 mg) when intravenous dextrose is not immediately available or when IV access is difficult. The workflow includes assessment of airway and breathing, point-of-care glucose measurement, documentation of indication (e.g., hypoglycemia with impaired consciousness), medication preparation and administration by a registered nurse or advanced practice clinician, post‑administration monitoring of blood glucose, and disposition planning (observation, glucose stabilization, transfer to inpatient care, or discharge with diabetes education). Typical sites of service are emergency departments, hospital inpatient units, observation units, ambulatory infusion centers, skilled nursing facilities, and some outpatient clinics that manage diabetes emergencies.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier / standard service | Rarely used as a modifier; indicates no special circumstances when required by payer formatting. |