Summary & Overview
HCPCS J2402: Chloroprocaine Hydrochloride Injection, per 1 mg
HCPCS Level II code J2402 designates the injectable formulation of chloroprocaine hydrochloride (clorotekal) billed per 1 mg. The code captures supply of a short‑acting local/regional anesthetic used for surgical, procedural, or regional block anesthesia. Nationally, accurate coding for injectable anesthetics matters for proper payment, inventory tracking, and clinical documentation tied to procedural care.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find concise benchmarks for payer coverage patterns, guidance on common billing modifiers and service lines associated with anesthetic injections, and clinical context about typical settings where this drug is administered. The publication outlines where J2402 commonly appears on the claim line (procedure and drug line items), how it relates to service site reporting, and typical documentation elements supporting medical necessity.
This summary is intended for revenue cycle leaders, coding professionals, and clinicians involved in procedural anesthesia billing who need a national perspective on coding practice, expected payers, and operational considerations for injectable local anesthetics.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code J2402 represents the medication injection, chloroprocaine hydrochloride (clorotekal), per 1 mg. This code describes a parenteral local anesthetic agent supplied for injection.
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Service type: Medication administration via injection (local/regional anesthetic)
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgery centers, hospital inpatient and outpatient surgical settings, physician offices where local or regional anesthetic injections are performed, and procedural suites.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult presenting to the ambulatory surgery center or hospital preoperative area for a minor surgical procedure on an extremity (for example, removal of a small skin lesion, superficial laceration repair, or open reduction of a distal radius fracture under regional anesthesia). The anesthesiology team prepares a single-dose or titrated dose of J2402 (chloroprocaine hydrochloride) for use as a short-acting local/ regional anesthetic. The clinical workflow includes medication verification by pharmacy or anesthesia, informed consent for regional or local anesthesia, sterile preparation, and administration via peripheral nerve block, Bier block, or local infiltration by an anesthesiologist, CRNA, or qualified proceduralist. Vital signs and sedation level are monitored during administration and the immediate post-procedure recovery period. Use of J2402 is selected when a rapid onset and short duration of anesthesia is desired to limit motor blockade and facilitate rapid recovery and turnover. Documentation includes drug name, dosage in mg, route, site, lot number, patient response, and any adverse events. Typical sites of service are outpatient ambulatory surgery centers, hospital operating rooms, emergency departments, and procedural suites.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier — standard billing |