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    v1.0.31
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDrugs Administered Other than Oral MethodHCPCS hcpcs-j8610-methotrexate-oral-2-5-mg
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    HCPCS Level II J8610: Methotrexate, Oral, 2.5 mg

    HCPCS Level II code J8610 represents methotrexate, oral, 2.5 mg supplied medication, typically billed for outpatient pharmacy or clinic-administered oral chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy; service type: oral medication administration/supply, typical site of service: outpatient clinic or outpatient pharmacy.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Bendamustine Products Coverage Criteria, T-Cell Lymphoma Agents: Beleodaq, Istodax, Lymphir, Poteligeo, and Romidepsin, Brentuximab Vedotin (Adcetris®) Coverage Criteria.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult with a chronic inflammatory or rheumatologic condition (for example, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis with psoriatic arthritis, or inflammatory bowel disease) who is prescribed low-dose oral methotrexate for disease control. The medication is dispensed in 2.5 mg tablets and billed under J8610 per tablet. Clinical workflow begins with a specialty clinic visit (rheumatology, dermatology, or gastroenterology) where the clinician documents the indication, planned dose and schedule (commonly weekly), baseline laboratory evaluation (CBC, liver function tests, creatinine), and patient counseling on dosing and folic acid supplementation. Prior authorization may be obtained from the patient’s payor (examples: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, Medicare) when required. The pharmacy processes the prescription, dispenses the prescribed number of 2.5 mg tablets, and submits claims using J8610 with appropriate modifiers to indicate payment circumstances (e.g., outpatient administration, ordering provider status, or billing adjustments). Follow-up includes periodic lab monitoring, dose adjustments, and documentation of adverse effects or treatment response in the medical record.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    99213Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, typically 15 minutesCommonly used for routine follow-up visits to assess disease control and manage methotrexate therapy
    99214Office or other outpatient visit for established patient, typically 25 minutesUsed when management of methotrexate requires moderate complexity or longer face-to-face time for counseling and monitoring
    36415Collection of venous blood by venipuncturePerformed for baseline and periodic laboratory monitoring (CBC, CMP, renal function) associated with methotrexate therapy
    80053Comprehensive metabolic panelLaboratory panel commonly ordered to monitor liver enzymes and renal function before and during methotrexate treatment
    85025Complete blood count (CBC) with automated differentialOrdered to monitor for methotrexate-induced cytopenias as part of routine safety monitoring

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    54Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RH0000X
    2080P0210X
    3336C0002X
    207R00000X
    261QA0900X
    364SP0200X
    364SS0200X
    207ZH0000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C00.9Malignant neoplasm of lip, unspecified
    C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung
    C50.912Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast
    C91.10Chronic lymphocytic leukemia of B-cell type not having achieved remission
    C91.12Chronic lymphocytic leukemia of B-cell type in relapse
    D86.9Sarcoidosis, unspecified
    E10.9Type 1 diabetes mellitus without complications
    E11.9Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
    H40.9Unspecified glaucoma
    J84.10Pulmonary fibrosis, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Hematology/Oncology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Bendamustine Products Coverage Criteriablue cross blue shield - tennessee2027-01-30
    T-Cell Lymphoma Agents: Beleodaq, Istodax, Lymphir, Poteligeo, and RomidepsinMass General Brigham Health Plan2027-01-04
    Brentuximab Vedotin (Adcetris®) Coverage Criteriablue cross blue shield - tennessee2026-12-31
    Pemetrexed Coverageblue cross blue shield - tennessee2026-12-31
    Tumor Treatment Fields - Medical PolicyHealth-New-England2026-12-01
    Extracorporeal PhotopheresisCigna2026-11-15
    VonvendiCigna2026-11-15
    Hematology - AphexdaCigna2026-11-15
    Extracorporeal PhotopheresisCigna2026-11-15
    Yartemlea (narsoplimab-wuug) Coverage for TA-TMANeighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island2026-11-01

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-J0013-ESKETAMINE-NASAL-SPRAY-1MG

    HCPCS Level II J0013: Esketamine Nasal Spray, 1 mg

    HCPCS-J0120-INJECTION-TETRACYCLINE-250MG

    HCPCS Level II J0120: Injection, Tetracycline, up to 250 mg

    HCPCS-J0121-OMADACYCLINE-INJECTION-1MG

    HCPCS Level II J0121: Omadacycline Injection, 1 mg

    HCPCS-J0122-ERAVACYCLINE-INJECTION-1MG

    HCPCS Level II J0122: Injection, eravacycline, 1 mg

    HCPCS-J0129-ABATACEPT-INJECTION-10MG-PHYSICIAN-SUPERVISED

    HCPCS Level II J0129: Abatacept Injection, 10 mg

    HCPCS-J0130-INJECTION-ABCIXIMAB-10MG

    HCPCS Level II J0130: Injection abciximab, 10 mg

    HCPCS-J0131-INJECTION-ACETAMINOPHEN-10MG-PARENTERAL-ANALGESIC

    HCPCS Level II J0131: Injection, Acetaminophen 10 mg

    HCPCS-J0132-INJECTION-ACETYLCYSTEINE-100MG-INJECTABLE-MEDICATION

    HCPCS Level II J0132: Injection, Acetylcysteine 100 mg

    HCPCS-J0133-ACYCLOVIR-INJECTION-5MG

    HCPCS Level II J0133: Injection, Acyclovir 5 mg

    HCPCS-J0134-ACETAMINOPHEN-INJECTION-FRESENIUS-KABI-10MG

    HCPCS Level II J0134: Injection, Acetaminophen (10 mg)

    Showing 1–10 of 991

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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