No. J8540 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 J8540?

CMS's ASP crosswalk for October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 lists 49 NDCs under J8540, for Dexamethasone and Dexamethasone Intensol. The table on this page shows each one with its billing units per package.

What is the Medicare payment limit for J8540?

$0.022 per 0.25 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 J8540?

One unit of J8540 is 0.25 mg, as stated in the code's descriptor. Units to report = dose given ÷ 0.25 mg.

J8540 J-Code: Dexamethasone — Billing Units & NDCs

In short

J8540 is the HCPCS Level II code for dexamethasone, oral, 0.25 mg. CMS assigns NDCs for Dexamethasone and Dexamethasone Intensol to it. One billing unit is 0.25 mg. The Medicare Part B payment limit is $0.022 per unit (October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026).

Code

CMS HCPCS file

HCPCS codeJ8540

Billing unit0.25 mg

Descriptor: Dexamethasone, oral, 0.25 mg
Short descriptor: Oral dexamethasone
Code set: HCPCS Level II, maintained by CMS
Effective: Jan 1, 2006

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$0.022

Per0.25 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 ÷ 0.25 mg. For example, 25 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 = 0.25 mg)

Modifier

NDC (11-digit)

NDC unit qualifier

NDC quantity

Enter the dose given to build the claim line.

NDCs billed under J8540

CMS’s ASP NDC–HCPCS crosswalk (effective October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026) assigns 49 NDCs to J8540 for Dexamethasone and Dexamethasone Intensol. Billing units per package are CMS’s figures for this code’s unit.

NDCs assigned to J8540 in the CMS ASP crosswalk
Drug	NDC (11-digit)	Labeler	Package	Billing units per package
Dexamethasone	00054-3177-63	Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.	500	200
Dexamethasone	00054-4184-25	Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.	100	1,600
Dexamethasone	00054-8175-25	Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.	100	1,600
Dexamethasone	00054-8180-25	Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.	100	300
Dexamethasone	00054-8181-25	Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.	100	600
Dexamethasone	00904-7266-61	Major Pharmaceuticals	100	1,600
Dexamethasone	00904-7267-61	Major Pharmaceuticals	100	2,400
Dexamethasone	00904-7444-61	Major Pharmaceuticals	100	800
Dexamethasone	43063-0266-07	PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	7	56
Dexamethasone	50090-0088-04	A-S Medication Solutions	6	96
Dexamethasone	50090-0089-00	A-S Medication Solutions	28	448
Dexamethasone	50090-6151-04	A-S Medication Solutions	6	96
Dexamethasone	50090-6152-00	A-S Medication Solutions	28	448
Dexamethasone	55289-0582-04	PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	4	64
Dexamethasone	55289-0582-06	PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	6	96
Dexamethasone	55289-0582-28	PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	28	448
Dexamethasone	55289-0903-12	PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	12	36
Dexamethasone	60505-6249-01	Apotex Corp	100	200
Dexamethasone	60505-6250-01	Apotex Corp	100	300
Dexamethasone	60505-6251-01	Apotex Corp	100	400
Dexamethasone	60505-6252-01	Apotex Corp	100	600
Dexamethasone	60505-6253-01	Apotex Corp	100	800
Dexamethasone	60505-6254-01	Apotex Corp	100	1,600
Dexamethasone	60505-6255-01	Apotex Corp	100	2,400
Dexamethasone	60687-0718-01	American Health Packaging	100	1,600
Dexamethasone	60687-0729-01	American Health Packaging	100	2,400
Dexamethasone	60687-0773-01	American Health Packaging	100	800
Dexamethasone	66993-0730-02	Prasco Laboratories	100	1,600
Dexamethasone	66993-0730-80	Prasco Laboratories	100	1,600
Dexamethasone	68788-4113-01	Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc	12	192
Dexamethasone	68788-7267-02	Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc	21	63
Dexamethasone	68788-7267-03	Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc	30	90
Dexamethasone	68788-8223-01	Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc	12	192
Dexamethasone	68788-8223-03	Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc	30	480
Dexamethasone	68788-8223-06	Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc	6	96
Dexamethasone	68788-8467-01	Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc	12	192
Dexamethasone	68788-8467-03	Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc	30	480
Dexamethasone	68788-8763-03	Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc	30	90
Dexamethasone	68788-8824-03	Preferred Pharmaceuticals Inc	30	480
Dexamethasone	70954-0398-10	ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	100	200
Dexamethasone	70954-0399-10	ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	100	300
Dexamethasone	72603-0187-01	Northstar RxLLC	100	600
Dexamethasone	72603-0188-01	Northstar RxLLC	100	800
Dexamethasone	72603-0189-01	Northstar RxLLC	100	1,600
Dexamethasone	72603-0190-01	Northstar RxLLC	100	2,400
Dexamethasone	72603-0212-01	Northstar RxLLC	100	200
Dexamethasone	72603-0213-01	Northstar RxLLC	100	300
Dexamethasone	72789-0501-20	PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	20	60
Dexamethasone Intensol	00054-3176-44	Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.	30	120

J8540: common questions

Is J8540 a CPT code?: No. J8540 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 J8540?: CMS's ASP crosswalk for October 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 lists 49 NDCs under J8540, for Dexamethasone and Dexamethasone Intensol. The table on this page shows each one with its billing units per package.
What is the Medicare payment limit for J8540?: $0.022 per 0.25 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 J8540?: One unit of J8540 is 0.25 mg, as stated in the code's descriptor. Units to report = dose given ÷ 0.25 mg. J-code billing units.

J8540 — Dexamethasone, oral, 0.25 mg