Summary & Overview
HCPCS Level II J9171: Injection, docetaxel, 1 mg
HCPCS Level II code J9171 designates a 1 mg unit of docetaxel, a widely used intravenous chemotherapeutic agent for multiple cancer indications. Nationally, this billing code matters because it standardizes reporting for dosing units of a high-cost oncology drug, informs reimbursement workflows across payers, and impacts drug utilization tracking and oncology payment models.
Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for docetaxel dosing and administration, the typical settings where J9171 is billed, and what to expect in payer coverage patterns. The publication summarizes benchmark metrics and payment considerations, highlights relevant policy updates affecting chemotherapy billing and unitization of drugs, and provides practical coding context for service lines that bill infusion drugs.
This summary is written for a national audience and focuses on coding, clinical service context, and payer coverage scope. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable in the full publication.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code J9171 represents Injection, docetaxel, 1 mg. This code denotes a chemotherapeutic agent dosage unit for intravenous administration used in oncology care. The service type is chemotherapy drug administration, and the typical site of service is an outpatient infusion center or hospital outpatient department where intravenous oncology medications are prepared and administered.
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old female with metastatic breast cancer presents to an outpatient oncology infusion center for systemic chemotherapy. The treating medical oncologist prescribes docetaxel as part of a combination regimen. Nursing verifies chemotherapy consent, reviews allergies and premedication orders (dexamethasone to reduce hypersensitivity and fluid retention), obtains baseline vitals and labs (CBC with differential, liver function tests), and performs site verification and venous access assessment (peripheral IV or implanted port). Pharmacy compounds the appropriate J9171 dose (docetaxel billed per 1 mg unit) and delivers the syringe to the infusion nurse. The nurse administers premedications, initiates docetaxel infusion over the recommended infusion time, monitors for acute infusion reactions, documents start/stop times, lot numbers, and amount administered, and disposes of hazardous waste. Billing captures J9171 units corresponding to the milligrams administered, appends clinically applicable modifiers (for example, modifier JW for discarded drug), and links treatment to the patient’s ICD-10 primary diagnosis for oncology care management.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
JW | Drug discarded/not administered to the patient |