S0030 Metronidazole Injection HCPCS Reimbursement

HCPCS Level II code S0030 denotes an injectable preparation of metronidazole, 500 mg. This billing code identifies administration of a parenteral antimicrobial and is used across outpatient clinical settings where intramuscular or intravenous injections are given. Nationally, accurate coding for injectable antimicrobials supports appropriate clinical documentation, claims processing, and tracking of medication utilization.

Key payers covered in typical analyses include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers can expect an overview of coding intent and clinical context, comparisons of payer coverage considerations, common billing scenarios, and relevant claims considerations. The publication outlines where S0030 is used in the care continuum, typical sites of service, and the role of this code in outpatient medication administration workflows.

This summary is intended to help billing managers, coders, and policy analysts understand the code’s purpose, payer landscape, and practical implications for claims and documentation. Data not available in the input will be noted explicitly in the detailed sections of the full publication.

Billing Code Overview

HCPCS Level II code S0030 describes injection, metronidazole, 500 mg. This code represents a parenteral administration of the antimicrobial agent metronidazole at a 500 mg dosage.

Service Type: Medication administration (injectable antibiotic).

Typical Site of Service: Outpatient clinic, physician office, or infusion center where intramuscular or intravenous injections are administered.

Clinical Context

A patient presents to an outpatient infusion center or hospital procedure area with an infection requiring parenteral anaerobic coverage. Common scenarios include severe pelvic inflammatory disease, complicated intra-abdominal infection following appendectomy, diabetic foot infection with poor oral absorption, or trichomoniasis in a patient unable to tolerate oral therapy. The ordering clinician documents indication, weight-based dosing or standard 500 mg dosing, and verifies allergies. Nursing performs medication reconciliation, prepares S0030 (Injection, metronidazole, 500 mg) using appropriate aseptic technique, and administers via IV push or short infusion per facility policy. Vital signs and infusion site are monitored during and after administration. Documentation includes medication name, dose, route, lot number, administering clinician, informed consent if required, and any adverse reactions. Billing captures S0030 with any applicable modifiers to indicate circumstances such as increased procedural service, discontinued service, bilateral procedures (if applicable), or services related to anesthesia staffing or ownership/physician involvement.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when administration required substantially greater resources or complexity (e.g., prolonged monitoring for adverse reaction).

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`208D00000X`	General Surgery	Surgeons commonly order intraoperative or postoperative parenteral metronidazole for abdominal/colorectal infections.
`207L00000X`	Emergency Medicine	Emergency physicians may order IV metronidazole for severe infections or when oral therapy is not appropriate.
`163W00000X`	Infectious Disease	ID specialists provide guidance on indications, dosing, and duration for parenteral metronidazole.
`334S00000X`	Anesthesiology	Anesthesiologists may be involved when anesthesia resources intersect with administration during procedures.
`163WP0800X`	Hospitalist	Hospitalists frequently order and manage IV antibiotic therapy during inpatient stays.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`A54.02`	Gonococcal infection of pharynx	Parenteral metronidazole may be used in mixed anaerobic infections or when oral therapy is not feasible.
`A54.3`	Gonococcal infection of lower genitourinary tract	Used when IV therapy is indicated for complicated genitourinary infections.
`K65.0`	Acute peritonitis (primary)	Metronidazole provides anaerobic coverage in intra-abdominal infections requiring IV antibiotics.
`K65.1`	Infection of peritoneal dialysis catheter	IV metronidazole may be part of empiric therapy for anaerobic organisms in intra-abdominal or catheter-related infections.
`K75.0`	Acute hepatic failure	IV antibiotics including metronidazole may be required for intra-abdominal sources; hepatic dosing considerations apply.
`L03.315`	Cellulitis of right lower limb	Severe skin and soft tissue infections with anaerobic involvement may prompt IV metronidazole use.
`N70.9`	Salpingitis and oophoritis, unspecified	Pelvic inflammatory disease with anaerobic organisms may require parenteral metronidazole.
`L92.8`	Other granulomatous disorders of skin and subcutaneous tissue	Rare infections with anaerobic pathogens may require IV metronidazole.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`96372`	Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); subcutaneous or intramuscular	Commonly used when metronidazole is administered IM rather than IV; documents outpatient injection administration.
`96409`	Chemotherapy administration, IV push technique, single drug	May be used as a parallel-type code for IV push medication administration in settings where chemotherapy-type administration reporting is required; consult payer guidelines.
`96365`	Intravenous infusion, for therapy, prophylaxis, or diagnosis; initial, up to 1 hour	Used when metronidazole is administered as a short IV infusion rather than push; documents infusion time and facility resources.
`99070`	Supplies and materials (except for those usually included with the office visit)	Used to report additional supplies (e.g., IV tubing, flushes) associated with administration of `S0030` when payor allows.
`96374`	Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection; each additional sequential intravenous push of a new substance/drug	Used when multiple IV pushes of different medications are administered during the same encounter alongside metronidazole.

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Summary & Overview

HCPCS Level II S0030: Injection, Metronidazole 500 mg