DEXAMETHASONE J Code: J8540

Drug & Product Overview

HCPCS Descriptor Dexamethasone, oral, 0.25 mg

HCPCS Added Date January 1, 2006

Manufacturer Multiple Manufacturers

Route of Administration Oral

Generic Status Multi-Source; Generic

Dosage Form Elixir | Not Available | Solution | Solution, Concentrate | Tablet

About DEXAMETHASONE

Dexamethasone is a medication aligned to the HCPCS J Code: J8540 for billing, pricing, and reimbursement purposes in the United States. Classified under Immunosuppressant, it is administered via the oral route and manufactured by multiple companies.

According to CMS Drug Use Information: Dexamethasone is used to treat conditions such as arthritis, blood/hormone disorders, allergic reactions, skin diseases, eye problems, breathing problems, bowel disorders, cancer, and immune system disorders. It is also used as a test for an adrenal gland disorder (Cushing's syndrome). Dexamethasone belongs to a class of drugs known as corticosteroids. It decreases your immune system's response to various diseases to reduce symptoms such as swelling and allergic-type reactions.

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 60 NDCs — log in for the full crosswalk.

NDC Code	Drug	Manufacturer	Billing Units / Pkg	Package Size
00054-3176-44	Dexamethasone Intensol	Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.	120	30 MG / 30 ML
00904-7266-61	Dexamethasone	Major Pharmaceuticals	1600	4 MG
43063-0266-07	Dexamethasone	PD-Rx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	56	2 MG
50090-0088-04	Dexamethasone	A-S Medication Solutions	96	4 MG
60505-6249-01	Dexamethasone	Apotex Corp.	200	.5 MG
•••••-••••-•• Log in to view	DEXAMETHASONE
	DEXAMETHASONE
	DEXAMETHASONE

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DEXAMETHASONE Pricing & Reimbursement

J8540 Private Payer Reimbursement

$0.04 / HCPCS unit as of Jan 2026

National median reimbursement across major commercial payers.

Create an account on PayerPrice for more information →

Historical Graphing and Billing Calculator

per HCPCS unit

As of Q3 2026

DEXAMETHASONE CPT Administration Codes

CPT Code	Description
96372	Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug); intramuscular
96374	Therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic injection (specify substance or drug), IV push, single, or initial substance/drug
96365 Login for More	Intravenous infusion, for therapy, prophylaxis, or diagnosis (specify substance or drug); initial, up to 1 hour Login for More
96366 Login for More	Intravenous infusion, for therapy, prophylaxis, or diagnosis (specify substance or drug); each additional hour (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) Login for More

Not on the CMS JW / JZ list

CMS does not include Dexamethasone (J8540) on its list of HCPCS pertaining to single-dose containers. Per CMS guidelines, the JZ/JW wastage modifiers may not apply when billing J8540. Wastage billing guide →

DEXAMETHASONE Medically Unlikely Edits (MUE)

The most billing units of J8540 Medicare will pay for one patient in one day, as published by CMS. 1 unit = 0.25 mg. The limit is different in the office and the hospital. Use the one for your setting.

Practitioner Office

0 units / day

Not payable in this setting

Hospital Outpatient

80 units / day

= 20 mg per day

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 →

DEXAMETHASONE 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.

Acquired (autoimmune) hemolytic anemia Acute allergic disorders or acute exacerbations of chronic allergic disorders Acute and subacute bursitis Acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis Acute gouty arthritis Acute leukemia Acute nonspecific tenosynovitis Acute or chronic allergic disorders (acute/exacerbation) Acute rheumatic carditis Adrenocortical hyperfunction (Cushing's syndrome screening) Adrenocortical hyperfunction (Cushing's syndrome — pituitary vs other causes) All indications — pediatric patients Allergic States Allergic conditions (acute, self-limited or acute exacerbations of chronic allergic disorders) Allergic conditions (acute, self-limited or acute exacerbations of chronic) Allergic conditions (asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis, serum sickness) Allergic conditions — acute or acute exacerbation of chronic allergic disorders Allergic conditions — acute self-limited or acute exacerbations of chronic allergic disorders Allergic conditions, Dermatologic diseases, Endocrine disorders, Gastrointestinal diseases, Hematologic disorders, Neoplastic diseases, Nervous system, Ophthalmic diseases, Renal diseases, Respiratory diseases, Rheumatic disorders (pediatric patients) Allergic conjunctivitis Allergic corneal marginal ulcers Allergic states Allergic states (asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity reactions, perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis, serum sickness) Allergic states — acute or acute exacerbations of chronic allergic disorders Ankylosing spondylitis Anterior segment inflammation Aspiration pneumonitis Atopic dermatitis Berylliosis Bronchial asthma Bullous dermatitis herpetiformis Cerebral edema Cerebral edema (associated with primary or metastatic brain tumor, craniotomy, or head injury) Cerebral edema (recurrent or inoperable brain tumors) Cerebral edema (recurrent or inoperable brain tumors, palliative) Cerebral edema associated with brain tumor Cerebral edema associated with primary or metastatic brain tumor, craniotomy, or head injury Cerebral edema associated with recurrent or inoperable brain tumors Cerebral edema — recurrent or inoperable brain tumor (palliative maintenance) Cerebral edema — recurrent or inoperable brain tumors (palliative maintenance) Chorioretinitis Congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia Congenital (erythroid) hypoplastic anemia (Diamond-Blackfan anemia) Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Contact dermatitis Dermatologic Diseases (bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, exfoliative erythroderma, mycosis fungoides, pemphigus, severe erythema multiforme) Dermatologic diseases Dermatologic diseases (bullous dermatitis herpetiformis, exfoliative erythroderma, mycosis fungoides, pemphigus, severe erythema multiforme) Dermatomyositis Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction (Cushing's syndrome due to pituitary ACTH excess — high-dose 2-day test) Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction (Cushing's syndrome screening — overnight) Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction (Cushing's syndrome screening) Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction (Cushing's syndrome — high-dose 2-day test to distinguish pituitary vs. other causes) Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction (Cushing's syndrome — low-dose 2-day suppression test) Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction (Cushing's syndrome — low-dose 2-day test) Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction (Cushing's syndrome — overnight screening test) Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction (Cushing's syndrome — pituitary ACTH excess vs. other causes) Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction (Cushing's syndrome — pituitary vs other causes) Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction (Cushing's syndrome — pituitary vs. other causes) Diagnostic testing of adrenocortical hyperfunction — distinguishing pituitary ACTH excess from other causes Diagnostic testing to distinguish Cushing's syndrome due to pituitary ACTH excess from other causes (high-dose 2-day suppression test) Diagnostic testing — Cushing's syndrome due to pituitary ACTH excess vs other causes Diffuse posterior uveitis and choroiditis Drug hypersensitivity reactions Endocrine Disorders (adrenocortical insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hypercalcemia associated with cancer, nonsuppurative thyroiditis) Endocrine disorders Endocrine disorders (adrenocortical insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hypercalcemia associated with cancer, nonsuppurative thyroiditis) Epicondylitis Erythroblastopenia (RBC anemia) Exfoliative dermatitis Exfoliative erythroderma Fulminating or disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis Gastrointestinal Diseases (regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis) Gastrointestinal diseases Gastrointestinal diseases (regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis) Hematologic Disorders (autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, pure red cell aplasia, secondary thrombocytopenia) Hematologic disorders Hematologic disorders (acquired hemolytic anemia, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, pure red cell aplasia, secondary thrombocytopenia) Hematologic disorders (autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, pure red cell aplasia, secondary thrombocytopenia) Herpes zoster ophthalmicus Hypercalcemia associated with cancer Idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonias Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome or nephrotic syndrome due to lupus erythematosus Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura Iritis and iridocyclitis Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis Keratitis Leukemia Leukemia and lymphomas Leukemias and lymphomas Leukemias and lymphomas (palliative management) Leukemias and lymphomas (palliative) Loeffler's syndrome Lymphoma Miscellaneous (trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement, tuberculous meningitis) Miscellaneous (trichinosis, tuberculous meningitis) Miscellaneous — trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement; tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block Multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (acute exacerbations) Mycosis fungoides Neoplastic Diseases (leukemias, lymphomas) Neoplastic diseases Neoplastic diseases (leukemias and lymphomas) Neoplastic diseases (leukemias and lymphomas, palliative) Nephrotic syndrome Nephrotic syndrome due to lupus erythematosus Nervous system diseases (acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis excluded — see regimen_id 11; cerebral edema associated with primary or metastatic brain tumor, craniotomy, or head injury) Nervous system disorders (cerebral edema associated with primary or metastatic brain tumor, craniotomy, head injury) Nonsuppurative thyroiditis Ocular inflammatory conditions unresponsive to topical corticosteroids Ophthalmic Diseases (sympathetic ophthalmia, temporal arteritis, uveitis, ocular inflammatory conditions) Ophthalmic diseases Ophthalmic diseases (sympathetic ophthalmia, temporal arteritis, uveitis, ocular inflammatory conditions) Optic neuritis Pediatric patients (all indications) Pediatric patients — all indications Pemphigus Perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis Polymyositis Post-traumatic osteoarthritis Primary or secondary adrenocortical insufficiency Psoriatic arthritis Pure red cell aplasia Recurrent or inoperable brain tumor (palliative) Recurrent or inoperable brain tumors Regional enteritis Renal Diseases (idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, lupus erythematosus nephrotic syndrome) Renal diseases Renal diseases (idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, lupus erythematosus nephropathy) Renal diseases (idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, lupus erythematosus nephrotic syndrome) Renal diseases (idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, lupus erythematosus-related nephrotic syndrome) Renal diseases (idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, lupus nephritis) Renal diseases (idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, nephrotic syndrome due to lupus erythematosus) Respiratory Diseases (berylliosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, eosinophilic pneumonias, sarcoidosis) Respiratory diseases Respiratory diseases (berylliosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, eosinophilic pneumonias, sarcoidosis) Respiratory diseases (berylliosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonias, sarcoidosis) Respiratory diseases (berylliosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, idiopathic eosinophilic pneumonias, symptomatic sarcoidosis) Rheumatic Disorders (gouty arthritis, rheumatic carditis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus) Rheumatic disorders Rheumatic disorders (acute gouty arthritis, acute rheumatic carditis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus) Rheumatic disorders (acute gouty arthritis, acute rheumatic carditis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus) Rheumatic disorders (gouty arthritis, rheumatic carditis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus) Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis (including juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) Seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis Secondary thrombocytopenia Serum sickness Severe erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) Severe psoriasis Severe seborrheic dermatitis Sympathetic ophthalmia Symptomatic sarcoidosis Synovitis of osteoarthritis Systemic lupus erythematosus Temporal arteritis Trichinosis with neurologic or myocardial involvement Tuberculous meningitis Tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block Tuberculous meningitis with subarachnoid block or impending block Ulcerative colitis Uveitis Uveitis and ocular inflammatory conditions unresponsive to topical corticosteroids

Show all 165 conditions Show fewer

Drug Class

Corticosteroid Hormone Receptor Agonists [MoA]Corticosteroid [EPC]

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an available Dexamethasone billing and coding guide?

Our team has not identified a manufacturer-published source of billing and coding information for DEXAMETHASONE.

Are there any available Dexamethasone patient assistance programs?

Our team has not identified a manufacturer-published source of patient assistance information for DEXAMETHASONE.

Where can I find Dexamethasone prescribing information?

Our team is still working to identify a prescribing information source for DEXAMETHASONE

Where can I find Dexamethasone side effect information?

Our team has not yet identified a source of side effects information for DEXAMETHASONE. Please check back in a few weeks.

Does billing DEXAMETHASONE require JZ/JW wastage modifiers?

CMS does not include DEXAMETHASONE (J8540) on its list of HCPCS pertaining to single-dose containers. Per CMS guidelines, the JZ/JW wastage modifiers may not apply when billing J8540. For more information, visit the link below.

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