Summary & Overview
HCPCS Level II J1850: Injection, kanamycin sulfate, up to 75 mg
HCPCS Level II code J1850 denotes an injectable dose of kanamycin sulfate, up to 75 mg. As a drug administration code, it is used on service lines to report parenteral delivery of this aminoglycoside antibiotic in outpatient and clinic settings. Accurate use of J1850 matters nationally for pharmacy billing, antimicrobial stewardship tracking, and payment across public and commercial payers.
Key payers in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of what the code represents, typical sites of service, and the clinical context for kanamycin use. The publication summarizes billing and service-line implications, common modifier usage (listed separately), and the typical care settings where J1850 appears on claims.
This piece provides benchmarks and policy-relevant considerations related to coding and claim submission rather than clinical guidance. It helps revenue cycle and clinical compliance teams understand where J1850 fits within outpatient drug administration workflows and payer coverage practices. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code J1850 represents an injection of kanamycin sulfate, up to 75 mg. This code describes a single administration of the specified aminoglycoside antibiotic.
Service type: Injectable antibiotic administration
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic, physician office, or hospital outpatient department, where parenteral antimicrobial therapy is administered and monitored.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult presenting with a localized bacterial infection in an outpatient or inpatient setting for which intramuscular or intravenous aminoglycoside therapy is indicated. The provider identifies an infection caused by susceptible organisms where kanamycin sulfate is selected (limited use due to toxicity and resistance). The clinical workflow includes: initial assessment and documentation of indication and informed consent; baseline renal function and audiology/vestibular assessment when appropriate; preparation of J1850 (kanamycin sulfate, up to 75 mg) per pharmacy/compounder; administration in a procedure room, infusion suite, or hospital inpatient unit by a licensed clinician (RN or physician) with monitoring for allergic reaction, nephrotoxicity, and ototoxicity; post-administration observation and documentation of dose, lot number, route, site, and patient's response; scheduling follow-up labs and monitoring as indicated (serum levels, creatinine, audiology testing). Typical sites of service are outpatient infusion centers, physician offices with injection capability, emergency departments, and inpatient hospital units. Common patient scenarios include treatment of multidrug-resistant mycobacterial infections when kanamycin is selected, or specific gram-negative infections when alternatives are contraindicated or unavailable. Clinical documentation must support medical necessity, dosing rationale, and monitoring plans.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 |