HCPCS Level II Code Lookup
Search the current CMS HCPCS Level II set — drugs (J-codes), durable medical equipment, supplies, and modifiers — by description or code. Official descriptions, instant results, free.
The right code and modifier, before the claim goes out.
A drug billed in the wrong units, DME without the KX modifier, or a missing JW for wasted drug is a denial waiting to happen. CodeSightTM reads the clinical note and suggests the ICD-10, CPT & HCPCS codes for you, with a human-review queue for anything uncertain.
How to read a HCPCS Level II code
Every Level II code is one letter followed by four digits. Take J1745 (injection, infliximab, 10 mg) — here's what each part is doing:
J The leading letter groups the code by type. J = a drug given by injection or infusion; other ranges include E (durable medical equipment), A (supplies & transport), L (orthotics & prosthetics), and G/Q (temporary codes).1745 Four digits identify the specific item. For drugs, the description sets the billable unit — J1745 is per 10 mg, so a 100 mg dose is billed as 10 units.A two-character modifier is often appended to add detail without changing the code — e.g. J1745-JW flags a discarded/wasted drug amount, and RT / LT mark the right or left side. Getting the units and modifier right is what keeps these claims from denying.
The in-depth guides below walk through the highest-volume Level II families — how the codes are built, common mistakes, and what the claim has to show.
HCPCS coding guides
Full guides for the Level II families practices bill most — the right code, common mistakes, and the modifiers that decide whether the claim pays.
A brief background on HCPCS
HCPCS — the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System — was established by CMS (then the Health Care Financing Administration) in 1978 to give Medicare, Medicaid, and other payers a consistent way to code procedures, supplies, and services. It is organized into two levels.
Level I is CPT, the numeric code set maintained by the American Medical Association for physician and outpatient procedures. Level II — the alphanumeric codes in this tool — is maintained by CMS for the items CPT doesn't cover: drugs, durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics, supplies, and ambulance services. Level II became a national standard code set under HIPAA's administrative-simplification rules, and CMS updates it on a quarterly cycle. For the official files and background, see CMS.
Frequently Asked Questions
HCPCS Level II codes are standardized alphanumeric codes (a letter followed by four digits, A through V) maintained by CMS to bill products, supplies, and services not found in CPT — including drugs administered by injection or infusion (J-codes), durable medical equipment, prosthetics and orthotics, ambulance transport, and supplies. They are used by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private payers.
Yes. HCPCS Level II codes and their official long descriptions are published in the public domain by CMS in the Alpha-Numeric HCPCS File — free to look up and use. (This differs from CPT, or HCPCS Level I, which is copyrighted by the American Medical Association.) This tool covers Level II codes only.
HCPCS Level I is CPT — five-digit numeric codes maintained by the American Medical Association, used mainly for physician and outpatient procedures. HCPCS Level II is the alphanumeric set maintained by CMS for items and non-physician services not covered by CPT, such as drugs, DME, supplies, and ambulance services. This lookup covers Level II.
A J-code is a HCPCS Level II code in the J0000–J9999 range that represents a drug administered other than by the oral route — typically injected or infused. The description states the drug and the billable unit (for example, J1745 is infliximab, 10 mg), so the number of units billed must reflect the actual dose given.
HCPCS Level II modifiers are two-character codes appended to a procedure or HCPCS code to add detail without changing its meaning — for example RT and LT for the right or left side, KX to attest that medical-policy requirements are met, GA for a signed waiver of liability on file, and the X{EPSU} set that specifies a distinct service. The correct modifier is often what determines whether a claim is paid.
CMS updates the Alpha-Numeric HCPCS File quarterly — effective January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 — adding, revising, and discontinuing codes, with the largest set of changes usually taking effect each January. Always confirm a code's active status against the release that applies to the date of service.
Yes. The tool runs entirely in your browser. The code set is downloaded once and all searching happens on your own device — nothing you type is uploaded, stored, or sent to any server.
Yes. Medmio's CodeSightTM engine reads the clinical note and suggests the ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS codes, with a human-review queue for anything low-confidence — so coding is faster and more consistent than manual lookup. This free lookup tool is a reference companion.