Summary & Overview
HCPCS J3280: Thiethylperazine Injection, Up to 10 mg
HCPCS Level II code J3280 denotes administration of thiethylperazine maleate injection, up to 10 mg, an antiemetic agent used to treat nausea and vomiting. Nationally, precise coding for medication injections influences claims adjudication, clinical documentation, and payment for outpatient and ambulatory care settings. Clear identification of drug injections like J3280 supports consistent billing and helps payers assess appropriate utilization.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the code's clinical context, common sites of service, and payer applicability. The publication outlines typical billing considerations and presents benchmarking and policy-relevant information where available. It identifies common modifiers and payer patterns when present in the input and notes when specific data elements are not provided.
This summary equips coders, billing professionals, and policy analysts with a concise reference to the code's purpose and scope, plus pointers to the types of content included in the full publication: coding guidance, reimbursement context, and clinical use cases in outpatient and hospital outpatient settings. Data not available in the input is noted in applicable sections.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code J3280 represents an injection of thiethylperazine maleate, up to 10 mg. This code describes a single-dose parenteral administration of an antiemetic medication used to manage nausea and vomiting.
Service Type: Medication injection (antiemetic)
Typical Site of Service: Outpatient clinic, physician office, urgent care, or hospital outpatient department
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult presenting to an outpatient infusion clinic, emergency department, or inpatient medical ward with moderate-to-severe nausea and vomiting unresponsive to oral antiemetics or when enteral route is contraindicated. The clinician assesses history, vital signs, and performs an exam to determine etiology (e.g., chemotherapy-related nausea, postoperative nausea, gastroparesis, medication-induced emesis, or acute gastroenteritis). When parenteral antiemetic therapy is indicated, a licensed clinician orders J3280 (injection, thiethylperazine maleate, up to 10 mg). The medication is prepared by pharmacy or nursing, administered intramuscularly or deep subcutaneously per facility policy, and the patient is observed for therapeutic response and adverse effects such as sedation, extrapyramidal symptoms, or hypotension. Documentation includes indication, dose and route, time of administration, informed consent if required, response to therapy, and any adjunctive medications or monitoring performed.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
23 | Unusual anesthesia | Use when general anesthesia is administered and the injection occurs during the anesthetic episode and must be separately identified. |