HCPCS J3301: Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection
HCPCS J3301 reports injectable triamcinolone acetonide (not otherwise specified), per 10 mg — a corticosteroid for joint, soft-tissue, and other injections. As a Part B drug it is paid at approximately ASP plus 6%, billed per unit with the NDC. Report drug waste with JW and no-waste with JZ.
- Code type
- HCPCS Level II drug (per 10 mg)
- Priced under
- Part B: ~ASP + 6%
- Billed per
- Per 10 mg unit, with the NDC
- Waste modifier
- JW (discarded) / JZ (no waste)
What is HCPCS J3301 used for?
HCPCS J3301 reports injectable triamcinolone acetonide, not otherwise specified, per 10 mg — a corticosteroid (brand Kenalog among others) used for intra-articular joint injections, soft-tissue injections, and other anti-inflammatory indications. J3301 bills the drug; the injection administration (96372) is billed separately.
How do you count units for J3301?
The descriptor is per 10 mg, so units follow the milligrams given:
| Dose given | Units of J3301 |
|---|---|
| 10 mg | 1 |
| 20 mg | 2 |
| 40 mg | 4 |
Example: a 40 mg triamcinolone knee injection is billed as J3301 x4 units plus 96372 for the administration, with the product's NDC on the drug line.
How is J3301 priced, and why the NDC?
As a Medicare Part B separately payable drug, triamcinolone is reimbursed at roughly ASP plus 6 percent. The average sales price is set by CMS from manufacturer data and updated quarterly, so the exact rate changes every quarter — bill per unit rather than a fixed dollar amount. The NDC is required on the claim line because several triamcinolone products and package sizes exist, and the NDC tells the payer exactly which one to price.
How do JW and JZ modifiers apply to J3301?
- JW — reports the discarded portion of a single-dose vial on a separate line.
- JZ — attests no drug was discarded.
One of the two is required on separately payable single-dose-container drugs. The same ASP-and-waste framework applies to the sibling drugs J1885, J0696, J1100, and J0585. Check the payable administration rates in the Medicare fee calculator.
Frequently asked questions
J3301 is per 10 mg. A 40 mg intra-articular injection is 4 units; a 20 mg dose is 2 units. Convert the milligrams administered into 10 mg increments and report that count. Include the NDC on the line so the payer prices the exact product.
J3301 is triamcinolone acetonide "not otherwise specified." Other triamcinolone formulations have distinct codes (for example J3300 preservative-free and J3304 extended-release). Match the code to the exact product administered; using the wrong triamcinolone code causes pricing mismatches and denials.
For single-dose vials, append JW to a separate line for the discarded amount and JZ when nothing was discarded. One is required on separately payable single-dose-container drugs. Multi-dose vials follow different waste rules and generally do not use JW/JZ.
Sources & further reading
Reviewed by the ImmediCare Solutions RCM team
Certified billers and coders handling claims across 50+ specialties nationwide. This entry is reviewed against current payer policy and CMS rules. Last review: Jul 5, 2026.
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