HCPCS supply code for triamcinolone acetonide steroid injection, not otherwise specified, billed per 10 mg, the standard drug line for most ortho joint and tendon shots.
- Medicare
- $0.00
- Work RVU
- 0
- Global, days
- Region
- Multi-region
Documentation requirements
What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 3 cited references ↓
- Drug name, concentration, and total mg injected per site
- Units billed (1 unit per 10 mg)
- Injection site and laterality
- NDC and lot number
- Separate procedure note supporting the injection CPT code
- Indication and prior treatment for repeat injections
Applicable modifiers
Modifiers commonly billed with this code.
Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual
What this code covers
Source · Editorial summary grounded in 3 cited references ↓
J3301 reports triamcinolone acetonide per 10 mg. This is the Kenalog line on most ortho injection claims: knee, shoulder, trigger finger, de Quervain, plantar fascia, bursa. Extended-release triamcinolone (Zilretta) has its own code, J3304, and should never go on J3301.
The unit math is where most errors happen. 40 mg is 4 units, 80 mg is 8 units. Billing 1 unit for a 40 mg injection leaves money on the table every visit, and it adds up across a busy clinic. When the same visit includes two joints, bill the drug total across both or split by line according to your payer's rules, and keep the mg per site in the note.
The procedure goes on a separate line: 20610 or 20611 for a major joint, 20605 or 20606 for an intermediate joint, 20600 or 20604 for a small joint, 20550 for a tendon sheath. JW and JZ apply only to single-dose containers. Many triamcinolone vials are multi-dose, so read the vial label before you add either one. Add RT or LT on the procedure line.
RVU & reimbursement
Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.
Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026
| Work RVU | 0 |
| Practice expense RVU | 0 |
| Malpractice RVU | 0 |
| Total RVU | 0 |
| Medicare national rate | $0.00 |
| Global period | days |
Payment by site of service
Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.
Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026
| Setting | Medicare rate (national) |
|---|---|
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office | $0.00 |
Common denial reasons
The recurring reasons claims for CPT J3301 get rejected.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓
- Units billed as 1 per vial instead of per 10 mg
- Zilretta billed on J3301 instead of J3304
- Drug billed without an injection procedure code
- Frequency limits exceeded for the same joint
- Missing NDC on a commercial claim that requires it
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 3 cited references ↓
01How many units of J3301 for 40 mg of Kenalog?
02Is Zilretta billed with J3301?
03Do I need a JW modifier with Kenalog?
04What CPT code goes with J3301 for a knee injection?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources.
- 01CMS Physician Fee Schedule 2026
- 02CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price files
- 03cms.govhttps://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/national-correct-coding-initiative-ncci-edits
Mira Scribe
Mira Scribe notes capture the drug, mg, site, and side for each injection, so the units and laterality on the claim match what was actually given.
See how Mira captures CPT J3301 documentation