HCPCS Level II J1836: Metronidazole Injection, 10 mg

HCPCS Level II code J1836 represents an injectable formulation of metronidazole, 10 mg, used for parenteral antimicrobial therapy; the service is drug administration typically delivered in inpatient hospital or outpatient infusion/clinic settings where intravenous or intramuscular medications are given.

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HCPCS Level II J1836: Metronidazole Injection, 10 mg

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Sign up for hcpcs J1836 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing J1836 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is an adult presenting to an outpatient infusion center, emergency department, or hospital ward with a clinically significant anaerobic bacterial infection requiring parenteral therapy. Common scenarios include severe intra-abdominal infections (e.g., diverticulitis with abscess), pelvic inflammatory disease requiring IV antibiotics, complicated skin and soft tissue infections with suspected anaerobes, or as part of combination therapy for mixed aerobic-anaerobic infections. The clinician orders J1836 (metronidazole injection, 10 mg) to provide intravenous metronidazole dosed per weight and renal/hepatic function.

Typical clinical workflow:

Patient evaluated by physician or advanced practice clinician and assigned an ICD-10 diagnosis supporting parenteral antibiotic therapy.
Pharmacy confirms order and prepares the metronidazole injection; nursing verifies patient identity and allergy history.
Metronidazole J1836 is administered IV (bolus or infusion) in the infusion suite, ED, or inpatient unit. Vital signs and infusion site are monitored.
Documentation includes medication name, dose, route, administration time, lot number if required, associated diagnosis, and any applicable modifier (e.g., for billing circumstances).
If therapy transitions to oral metronidazole, documentation notes conversion and date/time of last IV dose.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`96365`	Intravenous infusion, therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic; initial, up to 1 hour	Used when metronidazole is administered as an initial infusion session in an outpatient infusion center
`96366`	Each additional hour (List separately in addition to code for primary infusion)	Used for prolonged infusion sessions when metronidazole administration requires extended monitoring beyond the initial hour
`96372`	Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); subcutaneous or intramuscular	May be used if metronidazole is administered intramuscularly in settings where IM dosing is employed (less common)
`99283`	Emergency department visit, moderate severity	Commonly billed by ED providers when initiating IV antibiotics including `J1836` for acute infections
`36415`	Collection of venous blood by venipuncture	Performed for baseline labs (e.g., CBC, CMP) prior to or during parenteral antibiotic therapy

Related Modifiers

6 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
59	Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…	- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
25	CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…	- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
52	Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…	- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
53	Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…	- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
76	Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…	- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
78	CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…	- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
208000000X	Pediatrics Physician	A pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
207Q00000X	Family Medicine Physician	Family Medicine is the medical specialty which is concerned with the total health care of the individual and the family. It is the specialty in breadt…
283Q00000X	Psychiatric Hospital	An organization including a physical plant and personnel that provides multidisciplinary diagnostic and treatment mental health services to patients r…
207K00000X	Allergy & Immunology Physician	An allergist-immunologist is trained in evaluation, physical and laboratory diagnosis, and management of disorders involving the immune system. Select…
163W00000X	Registered Nurse	(1) A registered nurse is a person qualified by graduation from an accredited nursing school (depending upon schooling, a registered nurse may receive…
332BN1400X	Nursing Facility Supplies (DME)	Suppliers · Durable Medical Equipment & Medical Supplies
261QV0200X	VA Clinic/Center	Ambulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center
2084B0002X	Obesity Medicine (Psychiatry & Neurology) Physician	A physician who specializes in the treatment of obesity demonstrates competency in and a thorough understanding of the treatment of obesity and the ge…

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

28 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
A02.1	Salmonella sepsis
A41.9	Sepsis, unspecified organism
A48.1	Legionnaires' disease
A49.9	Bacterial infection, unspecified
A52.9	Late syphilis, unspecified
A54.89	Other gonococcal infections
A59.01	Trichomonal vulvovaginitis
A60.9	Anogenital herpesviral infection, unspecified
A74.89	Other chlamydial diseases
G00.9	Bacterial meningitis, unspecified

Showing 1–10 of 28

Related Codes

HCPCS-J0013-ESKETAMINE-NASAL-SPRAY-1MG

HCPCS Level II J0013: Esketamine Nasal Spray, 1 mg

HCPCS-J0120-INJECTION-TETRACYCLINE-250MG

HCPCS Level II J0120: Injection, Tetracycline, up to 250 mg

HCPCS-J0121-OMADACYCLINE-INJECTION-1MG

HCPCS Level II J0121: Omadacycline Injection, 1 mg

HCPCS-J0122-ERAVACYCLINE-INJECTION-1MG

HCPCS Level II J0122: Injection, eravacycline, 1 mg

HCPCS-J0129-ABATACEPT-INJECTION-10MG-PHYSICIAN-SUPERVISED

HCPCS Level II J0129: Abatacept Injection, 10 mg

HCPCS-J0130-INJECTION-ABCIXIMAB-10MG

HCPCS Level II J0130: Injection abciximab, 10 mg

HCPCS-J0131-INJECTION-ACETAMINOPHEN-10MG-PARENTERAL-ANALGESIC

HCPCS Level II J0131: Injection, Acetaminophen 10 mg

HCPCS-J0132-INJECTION-ACETYLCYSTEINE-100MG-INJECTABLE-MEDICATION

HCPCS Level II J0132: Injection, Acetylcysteine 100 mg

HCPCS-J0133-ACYCLOVIR-INJECTION-5MG

HCPCS Level II J0133: Injection, Acyclovir 5 mg

HCPCS-J0134-ACETAMINOPHEN-INJECTION-FRESENIUS-KABI-10MG

HCPCS Level II J0134: Injection, Acetaminophen (10 mg)

Showing 1–10 of 991

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Typical clinical workflow:

Patient evaluated by physician or advanced practice clinician and assigned an ICD-10 diagnosis supporting parenteral antibiotic therapy.
Pharmacy confirms order and prepares the metronidazole injection; nursing verifies patient identity and allergy history.
Metronidazole J1836 is administered IV (bolus or infusion) in the infusion suite, ED, or inpatient unit. Vital signs and infusion site are monitored.
Documentation includes medication name, dose, route, administration time, lot number if required, associated diagnosis, and any applicable modifier (e.g., for billing circumstances).
If therapy transitions to oral metronidazole, documentation notes conversion and date/time of last IV dose.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`96365`	Intravenous infusion, therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic; initial, up to 1 hour	Used when metronidazole is administered as an initial infusion session in an outpatient infusion center
`96366`	Each additional hour (List separately in addition to code for primary infusion)	Used for prolonged infusion sessions when metronidazole administration requires extended monitoring beyond the initial hour
`96372`	Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); subcutaneous or intramuscular	May be used if metronidazole is administered intramuscularly in settings where IM dosing is employed (less common)
`99283`	Emergency department visit, moderate severity	Commonly billed by ED providers when initiating IV antibiotics including `J1836` for acute infections
`36415`	Collection of venous blood by venipuncture	Performed for baseline labs (e.g., CBC, CMP) prior to or during parenteral antibiotic therapy

Related Modifiers

6 rows

Modifier	Description	When to Use
59	Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…	- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
25	CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…	- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
52	Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…	- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
53	Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…	- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
76	Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…	- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
78	CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…	- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…

Related Provider Taxonomies

8 rows

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
208000000X	Pediatrics Physician	A pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
207Q00000X	Family Medicine Physician	Family Medicine is the medical specialty which is concerned with the total health care of the individual and the family. It is the specialty in breadt…
283Q00000X	Psychiatric Hospital	An organization including a physical plant and personnel that provides multidisciplinary diagnostic and treatment mental health services to patients r…
207K00000X	Allergy & Immunology Physician	An allergist-immunologist is trained in evaluation, physical and laboratory diagnosis, and management of disorders involving the immune system. Select…
163W00000X	Registered Nurse	(1) A registered nurse is a person qualified by graduation from an accredited nursing school (depending upon schooling, a registered nurse may receive…
332BN1400X	Nursing Facility Supplies (DME)	Suppliers · Durable Medical Equipment & Medical Supplies
261QV0200X	VA Clinic/Center	Ambulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center
2084B0002X	Obesity Medicine (Psychiatry & Neurology) Physician	A physician who specializes in the treatment of obesity demonstrates competency in and a thorough understanding of the treatment of obesity and the ge…

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

28 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
A02.1	Salmonella sepsis
A41.9	Sepsis, unspecified organism
A48.1	Legionnaires' disease
A49.9	Bacterial infection, unspecified
A52.9	Late syphilis, unspecified
A54.89	Other gonococcal infections
A59.01	Trichomonal vulvovaginitis
A60.9	Anogenital herpesviral infection, unspecified
A74.89	Other chlamydial diseases
G00.9	Bacterial meningitis, unspecified

Showing 1–10 of 28

Related Codes

HCPCS-J0013-ESKETAMINE-NASAL-SPRAY-1MG

HCPCS Level II J0013: Esketamine Nasal Spray, 1 mg

HCPCS-J0120-INJECTION-TETRACYCLINE-250MG

HCPCS Level II J0120: Injection, Tetracycline, up to 250 mg

HCPCS-J0121-OMADACYCLINE-INJECTION-1MG

HCPCS Level II J0121: Omadacycline Injection, 1 mg

HCPCS-J0122-ERAVACYCLINE-INJECTION-1MG

HCPCS Level II J0122: Injection, eravacycline, 1 mg

HCPCS-J0129-ABATACEPT-INJECTION-10MG-PHYSICIAN-SUPERVISED

HCPCS Level II J0129: Abatacept Injection, 10 mg

HCPCS-J0130-INJECTION-ABCIXIMAB-10MG

HCPCS Level II J0130: Injection abciximab, 10 mg

HCPCS-J0131-INJECTION-ACETAMINOPHEN-10MG-PARENTERAL-ANALGESIC

HCPCS Level II J0131: Injection, Acetaminophen 10 mg

HCPCS-J0132-INJECTION-ACETYLCYSTEINE-100MG-INJECTABLE-MEDICATION

HCPCS Level II J0132: Injection, Acetylcysteine 100 mg

HCPCS-J0133-ACYCLOVIR-INJECTION-5MG

HCPCS Level II J0133: Injection, Acyclovir 5 mg

HCPCS-J0134-ACETAMINOPHEN-INJECTION-FRESENIUS-KABI-10MG

HCPCS Level II J0134: Injection, Acetaminophen (10 mg)

Showing 1–10 of 991

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

HCPCS Level II J1836: Metronidazole Injection, 10 mg

Sign up for hcpcs J1836 policy alerts

HCPCS Level II J1836: Metronidazole Injection, 10 mg

Sign up for hcpcs J1836 policy alerts

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

Related Codes

What does HCPCS code J1836 represent and where is it typically used?

Which billing modifiers are commonly used with J1836 and when should they be applied?

What CPT codes are commonly billed with J1836?

In what clinical situations is IV metronidazole billed with J1836, and what is the typical workflow?

Which diagnoses are commonly used to support billing for J1836?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Related CPT Codes

Related Modifiers

Related Provider Taxonomies

Related ICD-10-CM Codes

Related Codes

What does HCPCS code J1836 represent and where is it typically used?

Which billing modifiers are commonly used with J1836 and when should they be applied?

What CPT codes are commonly billed with J1836?

In what clinical situations is IV metronidazole billed with J1836, and what is the typical workflow?

Which diagnoses are commonly used to support billing for J1836?

References