Summary & Overview
HCPCS J3475: Injection, Magnesium Sulfate, per 500 mg
HCPCS Level II code J3475 denotes an injectable dose of magnesium sulfate billed per 500 mg. Magnesium sulfate is used in acute care to treat and prevent magnesium deficiency, to manage certain arrhythmias, and as an adjunct in other clinical indications where intravenous magnesium is indicated. Nationally, accurate reporting of this HCPCS Level II code matters for medication utilization tracking, inpatient and outpatient pharmacy billing, and claims adjudication related to parenteral therapies.
Key payers in scope include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for parenteral magnesium, common sites of service where the code is used, and the typical billing considerations associated with unit-based injectable codes. The publication summarizes benchmark billing practices, payer coverage considerations, and payment-policy landmarks relevant to injectable medications billed per unit.
This summary provides clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts a clear reference to the service represented by J3475, the payer landscape addressed, and what to expect in the full publication: utilization benchmarks, payer policy notes, and clinical context for appropriate coding and documentation. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code J3475 describes an injection of magnesium sulfate, billed per 500 mg unit. The service involves administration of magnesium sulfate as an injectable medication.
Service type: Medication administration (injectable therapeutic agent)
Typical site of service: Hospital inpatient or outpatient settings, emergency department, or other acute care settings where parenteral magnesium is administered
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, specific ICD-10 diagnoses, or related billing lines.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 28-year-old pregnant woman at 32 weeks' gestation arrives at the labor and delivery unit with severe preeclampsia characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria and complaints of worsening headaches and visual changes. The obstetric team orders intravenous magnesium sulfate for seizure prophylaxis during labor and the immediate postpartum period. Pharmacy prepares J3475 (injection, magnesium sulfate, per 500 mg) and nursing administers an initial loading dose followed by a maintenance infusion per institutional protocol. Vital signs, deep tendon reflexes, urine output, and serum magnesium levels are monitored during therapy. Documentation includes indication (severe preeclampsia), medication dosage in milligrams and total volume administered, start and stop times, site of administration (intravenous), and any adverse reactions. Billing captures the total milligrams administered using units of J3475 per 500 mg and appends appropriate modifiers for circumstances such as emergency administration, bilateral procedures not applicable, or the presence of an emergency department origin if required by payer rules.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
23 | Unusual anesthesia — not typically used for drug admin but CPT-level; included for completeness | Rarely used; not typically applicable to unless associated unusual anesthesia service is reported |