Home › Drug Codes › J Codes › J7608 · ACETYLCYSTEINE
Updated July 1st, 2026

ACETYLCYSTEINE J Code: J7608

Acetylcysteine, inhalation solution, fda-approved final product, non-compounded, administered through dme, unit dose form, per gram

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Q4 2026 Medicare Payment Limit for J7608, effective October 1, 2026: $6.398 per HCPCS billing unit, down 12.0% from $7.274. From CMS's final file.

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Medicare Payment Limit ?
$7.274
/ HCPCS billing unit · Q3 2026
APC Payment Limit ?
Not published
CMS publishes none for Q3 2026
ASP ?
$•••.••
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WAC · AWP ?
$•••.••
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NDCs Crosswalked ?
24
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Drug & Product Overview

HCPCS Descriptor Acetylcysteine, inhalation solution, fda-approved final product, non-compounded, administered through dme, unit dose form, per gram
HCPCS Added Date January 1, 2000
Manufacturer Multiple Manufacturers
Route of Administration Inhalation, Oral
Generic Status Multi-Source; Generic
Dosage Form Inhalant | Solution

About ACETYLCYSTEINE

Acetylcysteine is a medication aligned to the HCPCS J Code: J7608 for billing, pricing, and reimbursement purposes in the United States. This Respiratory medication is administered via the inhalation or oral routes and manufactured by multiple companies.

According to CMS Drug Use Information: When inhaled by mouth, acetylcysteine is used to help thin and loosen mucus in the airways due to certain lung diseases (such as emphysema, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia). This effect helps you to clear the mucus from your lungs so that you can breathe easier. When taken by mouth, acetylcysteine is used to prevent liver damage from acetaminophen overdose.

Disclaimer: This is a summary and does not contain all possible information about this product. For complete information about this product or your specific health needs, ask your healthcare professional.

NDC Code Information

Based on publicly available CMS files. Showing 5 of 24 NDCs — log in for the full crosswalk.

NDC Code Drug Manufacturer Billing Units / Pkg Package Size
00409-3307-03 Acetylcysteine Hospira, Inc. 9 Acetylcysteine Oral So lution 3 GM/30ML… Login for More
00517-7504-25 Acetylcysteine American Regent, Inc. 10 Acetylcysteine Respira tory (Inhalation… Login for More
42494-0435-25 Acetylcysteine Cameron Pharmaceuticals 10 Acetylcysteine Respira tory (Inhalation… Login for More
63323-0690-30 Acetylcysteine Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC 18 Acetylcysteine Oral So lution 6 GM/30ML… Login for More
70069-0018-25 Acetylcysteine Somerset Therapeutics, LLC 10 Acetylcysteine Respira tory (Inhalation… Login for More
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ACETYLCYSTEINE Pricing & Reimbursement

J7608 Private Payer Reimbursement
$8.42 / HCPCS unit as of Jan 2026

National median reimbursement across major commercial payers.

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UnitedHealthcare, BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna, Cigna

Historical Graphing and Billing Calculator

per HCPCS unit
As of Q3 2026

ACETYLCYSTEINE CPT Administration Codes

The below list of CPT codes is intended for informational purposes only and may not be exhaustive. CPT® codes and descriptions are copyright American Medical Association (AMA). All rights reserved.

CPT Code Description
94640 Pressurized or nonpressurized inhalation treatment for acute airway obstruction or for sputum induction for diagnostic purposes.
Not on the CMS JW / JZ list

CMS does not include Acetylcysteine (J7608) on its list of HCPCS pertaining to single-dose containers. Per CMS guidelines, the JZ/JW wastage modifiers may not apply when billing J7608. Wastage billing guide →

ACETYLCYSTEINE Medically Unlikely Edits (MUE)

The most billing units of J7608 Medicare will pay for one patient in one day, as published by CMS. 1 unit = 1 gm. The limit is different in the office and the hospital. Use the one for your setting.

Practitioner Office
3 units / day
= 3 gm per day
Hospital Outpatient
0 units / day
Not payable in this setting

MAI 3 · Date of Service Edit: Clinical. Per-day limit based on clinical expectations; excess units are denied but may be appealed with documentation of medical necessity. See all MUE limits →

gm Enter a dose to see how many billing units it is and whether it is under the limit.

ACETYLCYSTEINE Clinical Information

Indications and drug classification.

Treated Diseases & Conditions

This list of indications is not exhaustive and may be subject to errors. The information on BuyandBill.com is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical advice.

Abnormal, viscid, or inspissated mucous secretions (chronic bronchopulmonary disease, acute bronchopulmonary disease, pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis, tracheostomy care, pulmonary complications associated with surgery, use during anesthesia, post-traumatic chest conditions, atelectasis due to mucous obstruction) Abnormal, viscid, or inspissated mucous secretions in chronic and acute bronchopulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, tracheostomy care, pulmonary complications, atelectasis, and related conditions Abnormal, viscid, or inspissated mucous secretions in chronic and acute bronchopulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, tracheostomy care, pulmonary complications, atelectasis, diagnostic bronchial studies Abnormal, viscid, or inspissated mucous secretions in chronic and acute bronchopulmonary disease, pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis, tracheostomy care, pulmonary complications associated with surgery, use during anesthesia, post-traumatic chest conditions, atelectasis due to mucous obstruction Acetaminophen overdose Acute bronchopulmonary disease Atelectasis due to mucous obstruction Chronic bronchopulmonary disease Chronic bronchopulmonary disease, acute bronchopulmonary disease, pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis, tracheostomy care, pulmonary complications associated with surgery, use during anesthesia, post-traumatic chest conditions, atelectasis due to mucous obstruction Diagnostic bronchial studies Diagnostic bronchial studies (bronchograms, bronchospirometry, and bronchial wedge catheterization) Diagnostic bronchial studies (bronchograms, bronchospirometry, bronchial wedge catheterization) Post-traumatic chest conditions Pulmonary complications associated with surgery Pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis Tracheostomy care Use during anesthesia
Drug Class
Antidote [EPC]Antidote for Acetaminophen Overdose [EPC]Decreased Respiratory Secretion Viscosity [PE]Increased Glutathione Concentration [PE]Mucolytic [EPC]Reduction Activity [MoA]

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an available Acetylcysteine billing and coding guide?
We have not yet identified a manufacturer source of Acetylcysteine billing and coding information.
Are there any available Acetylcysteine patient assistance programs?
Our team did not identify a source for Acetylcysteine patient assistance information. Please reach out to our team if you feel that this is a mistake.
Where can I find Acetylcysteine prescribing information?
ACETYLCYSTEINE prescribing information can be found at the link below. Please reach out to us if you believe this information to be innacurate or out of date. Visit Here →
Where can I find Acetylcysteine side effect information?
Our team has not yet identified a source of side effects information for ACETYLCYSTEINE. Please check back in a few weeks.
Does billing ACETYLCYSTEINE require JZ/JW wastage modifiers?
CMS does not include ACETYLCYSTEINE (J7608) on its list of HCPCS pertaining to single-dose containers. Per CMS guidelines, the JZ/JW wastage modifiers may not apply when billing J7608. For more information, visit the link below.

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