No. J8501 is a HCPCS Level II code, maintained by CMS, that identifies the drug supplied. CPT codes are five-digit numbers from the AMA that describe services. Giving the drug, for example an injection or infusion, is usually reported with a separate CPT administration code.

What NDCs are billed under J8501?

CMS's ASP crosswalk for October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 lists 27 NDCs under J8501, for Aprepitant and Emend. The table on this page shows each one with its billing units per package.

What is the Medicare payment limit for J8501?

$2.511 per 5 mg, effective October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, from CMS's Part B drug payment limit file. Multiply by the units billed for the allowed amount before deductible and coinsurance. It is not a coverage decision.

What is one billing unit of J8501?

One unit of J8501 is 5 mg, as stated in the code's descriptor. Units to report = dose given ÷ 5 mg.

J8501 J-Code: Emend (aprepitant) — Billing Units & NDCs

In short

J8501 is the HCPCS Level II code for aprepitant, oral, 5 mg. CMS assigns NDCs for Aprepitant and Emend to it. One billing unit is 5 mg. The Medicare Part B payment limit is $2.511 per unit (October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026).

Code

CMS HCPCS file

HCPCS codeJ8501

Billing unit5 mg

Descriptor: Aprepitant, oral, 5 mg
Short descriptor: Oral aprepitant
Code set: HCPCS Level II, maintained by CMS
Effective: Jan 1, 2019

The billing unit is read from the descriptor. Confirm it against the CMS file before billing.

Medicare Part B payment limit

CMS ASP file

Payment limit per unit$2.511

Per5 mg

Coinsurance20%

Effective October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Payment allowance limits subject to the ASP methodology are based on 2Q26 ASP data. A payment limit is not a coverage decision; the Medicare contractor decides coverage. CMS ASP pricing files

Units and claim line

Units = dose given ÷ 5 mg. For example, 500 mg is 100 units. Enter the dose to get the units and the NDC line for the CMS-1500 and the 837P.

Dose given (mg)

HCPCS units (1 unit = 5 mg)

Modifier

NDC (11-digit)

NDC unit qualifier

NDC quantity

Enter the dose given to build the claim line.

NDCs billed under J8501

CMS’s ASP NDC–HCPCS crosswalk (effective October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026) assigns 27 NDCs to J8501 for Aprepitant and Emend. Billing units per package are CMS’s figures for this code’s unit.

NDCs assigned to J8501 in the CMS ASP crosswalk
Drug	NDC (11-digit)	Labeler	Package	Billing units per package
Aprepitant	00781-2321-06	Sandoz Inc.	1	8
Aprepitant	00781-2321-51	Sandoz Inc.	5	40
Aprepitant	00781-2322-46	Sandoz Inc.	2	32
Aprepitant	00781-2322-68	Sandoz Inc.	6	96
Aprepitant	00781-2323-68	Sandoz Inc.	6	150
Aprepitant	00781-4063-36	Sandoz Inc.	3	57
Aprepitant	13668-0591-81	Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited	1	8
Aprepitant	13668-0591-82	Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited	5	40
Aprepitant	13668-0592-84	Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited	2	32
Aprepitant	13668-0592-86	Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited	6	96
Aprepitant	13668-0593-86	Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited	6	150
Aprepitant	13668-0594-87	Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited	3	57
Aprepitant	68001-0666-01	BluePoint Laboratories	1	8
Aprepitant	68001-0666-17	BluePoint Laboratories	5	40
Aprepitant	68001-0667-01	BluePoint Laboratories	2	32
Aprepitant	68001-0667-19	BluePoint Laboratories	6	96
Aprepitant	68001-0668-19	BluePoint Laboratories	6	150
Aprepitant	68001-0669-15	BluePoint Laboratories	3	57
Aprepitant	68462-0112-33	Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA	3	57
Aprepitant	68462-0583-40	Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA	1	8
Aprepitant	68462-0583-85	Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA	5	40
Aprepitant	68462-0584-58	Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA	2	32
Aprepitant	68462-0584-76	Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA	6	96
Aprepitant	68462-0585-76	Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA	6	150
Emend	00006-0461-02	Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC	2 × 1	32
Emend	00006-3066-03	Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC	1	25
Emend	00006-3862-03	Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC	3 × 1	57

J8501: common questions

Is J8501 a CPT code?: No. J8501 is a HCPCS Level II code, maintained by CMS, that identifies the drug supplied. CPT codes are five-digit numbers from the AMA that describe services. Giving the drug, for example an injection or infusion, is usually reported with a separate CPT administration code. CPT codes for drug administration.
What NDCs are billed under J8501?: CMS's ASP crosswalk for October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 lists 27 NDCs under J8501, for Aprepitant and Emend. The table on this page shows each one with its billing units per package.
What is the Medicare payment limit for J8501?: $2.511 per 5 mg, effective October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, from CMS's Part B drug payment limit file. Multiply by the units billed for the allowed amount before deductible and coinsurance. It is not a coverage decision.
What is one billing unit of J8501?: One unit of J8501 is 5 mg, as stated in the code's descriptor. Units to report = dose given ÷ 5 mg. J-code billing units.

J8501 — Aprepitant, oral, 5 mg