Summary & Overview
HCPCS J1940: Injection, Furosemide up to 20 mg
HCPCS Level II code J1940 designates the injection of furosemide (up to 20 mg) and is used to bill for a single administration of this loop diuretic. Furosemide injections are commonly given in acute care settings for rapid diuresis in conditions such as pulmonary edema, heart failure exacerbations, or other indications requiring prompt fluid removal. Nationally, accurate coding for injectable diuretics affects inpatient and outpatient revenue capture, medication utilization tracking, and quality measurement tied to acute cardiovascular and renal care pathways.
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 and typical sites of service, benchmark considerations for billing and utilization, and note of missing input data where applicable. The publication outlines common billing modifiers and payer considerations (when available), summarizes coding usage scenarios, and highlights where policy updates or payer-specific rules may influence reimbursement and documentation requirements.
This executive summary is intended for revenue cycle managers, clinicians involved in acute care delivery, and policy analysts seeking a national-level briefing on the coding and operational implications of billing for injectable furosemide.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code J1940 represents injection, furosemide, up to 20 mg. This code describes a single administration of intravenous or intramuscular furosemide (a loop diuretic) with a dose up to 20 mg.
Service type: injectable medication administration
Typical site of service: outpatient infusion or clinic setting, emergency department, or inpatient bedside administration
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult presenting to the emergency department or an outpatient infusion center with acute volume overload due to congestive heart failure, acute pulmonary edema, or symptomatic edema from chronic kidney disease. The clinician orders J1940 — injection, furosemide, up to 20 mg — when rapid diuresis is needed and enteral administration is not feasible or is too slow.
The clinical workflow: the physician documents the indication (for example, acute decompensated heart failure with dyspnea and evidence of pulmonary congestion). Nursing verifies allergies and baseline vitals, establishes IV access, and confirms recent electrolytes and renal function. The pharmacist prepares the IV furosemide dose (up to 20 mg per unit) and verifies concentration. The nurse administers the J1940 injection per facility protocol, monitors blood pressure, urine output, and electrolytes, and documents the administration in the medication administration record and the procedural note. If additional diuresis is required, further doses or alternative routes are considered and coded accordingly.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Professional component | Use if reporting a distinct professional component when applicable to accompanying services (rare for drug injection alone). |