HCPCS J2405: ondansetron injection (per 1 mg). What Medicare pays and what to ask
Ondansetron is a common anti-nausea injection. Here is how the J2405 unit price works and what to check.
This rate is for one billing unit. Multiply it by the number of units on your bill to compare with the amount charged.
What this code means
HCPCS J2405 is an injection of ondansetron hydrochloride, billed per 1 mg.
A 4 mg dose is billed as 4 units. The Medicare payment limit is for a single unit of 1 mg.
Why the bill can be much higher than the Medicare rate
The rate on this page is per milligram, so check the number of units against the dose.
Hospital charges for a small injection are often a large multiple of the Medicare unit price.
| If a line is billed at | It would be |
|---|---|
| 5x the Medicare rate | $0.42 per 1 mg |
| 10x the Medicare rate | $0.84 per 1 mg |
| 20x the Medicare rate | $1.68 per 1 mg |
The Medicare rate is a published benchmark, not a legal ceiling on what a provider may charge. Our free scan flags a line as worth a closer look when it is billed at more than 10 times the Medicare rate.
Questions worth asking before you pay
- What dose was given, and how many units are on the bill?
- Is the injection listed only once?
- Is the administration billed separately (96374 or similar)?
Check every line against the official Medicare rates in about a minute. The scan is free.
Related codes
Source: Medicare Part B drug payment limits (CMS, October 2026 file), payment limit per billing unit. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rates change each year and a hospital bill can include charges that the benchmark does not cover.