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HCPCS J1644 · Level II · Part B drug

HCPCS J1644: Injection, heparin sodium, per 1000 units

Reviewed by QuickIntell RCM Editorial Team · Last reviewed

Data effective
Data currency: ASP payment limits October 2026 (effective October 1, 2026); MUE and NCCI edits 2026 Q4 (effective October 1, 2026); OPPS Addendum B July 2026 (effective July 1, 2026). Next CMS release: January 1, 2027 (ASP, MUE, NCCI and OPPS quarterly updates).

Key facts for J1644

Billing unit
1000 UNITS
Inj heparin sodium per 1000u
ASP payment limit
$0.201
October 2026; +1.0% vs July 2026
Practitioner MUE
40
MAI 3
OPPS status
SI N
NCCI exposure
299 col-2 pairs
100% allow a modifier
Coverage articles
0
none list this code

TL;DR

HCPCS J1644 is the Level II code for Injection, heparin sodium, per 1000 units, billed per 1000 UNITS. The Medicare Part B ASP payment limit for October 2026 is $0.201 per billing unit, up 1.0% from July 2026. The practitioner MUE allows up to 40 units per date of service (MAI 3). Under OPPS it carries status indicator N. J1644 is billed in units of 1000 UNITS; the quantity administered, the NDC package and the units on the claim must reconcile, which is the check that prevents CARC 16 and 151 returns on this line. The ASP crosswalk maps 138 NDCs to it, sold as Heparin Sodium in NaCl, Heparin Sodium (Porcine), Heparin (Porcine) In D5W by B. Braun Medical Inc., Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Henry Schein Inc.. It is the bundled column-2 code in 299 NCCI pairs, most often with 0345T, 0483T, 0484T. No current Billing and Coding Article lists J1644, so coverage follows the FDA label, compendia and any applicable NCD.

Medicare Part B payment limit (ASP)

CMS sets the Part B payment limit for J1644 at $0.201 per 1000 UNITS for October 2026, derived from manufacturer average sales price plus 6%, compared with $0.199 in July 2026. Beneficiary coinsurance is 20%.

ASP payment limits for J1644
QuarterPayment limitPerCoinsurance
October 2026$0.2011000 UNITS20%
July 2026$0.1991000 UNITS—
Source: CMS Medicare Part B Drug Payment Limit File. Commercial and Medicaid payers set their own rates.

NDC to HCPCS billing-unit conversion

The October 2026 ASP crosswalk maps 138 NDCs from 17 labelers to J1644. Report the NDC in the claim's drug segment and bill the number of J1644 units that equals the quantity administered divided by 1000 UNITS; the last column gives units per full package.

NDCs that crosswalk to J1644
NDCDrug nameLabelerPackage sizeBilling units / package
00264-3301-10Heparin Sodium in NaClB. Braun Medical Inc.500 × 24600
00264-3462-20Heparin Sodium in NaClB. Braun Medical Inc.250 × 24600
00264-5705-10Heparin Sodium (Porcine)B. Braun Medical Inc.0.5 × 1050
00264-9567-10Heparin (Porcine) In D5WB. Braun Medical Inc.500 × 24480
00264-9577-10Heparin (Porcine) In D5WB. Braun Medical Inc.500 × 24600
00264-9587-20Heparin (Porcine) In D5WB. Braun Medical Inc.250 × 24600
00264-9872-00Heparin SodiumB. Braun Medical Inc.1000 × 1224
00264-9872-10Heparin (Porcine) In NaclB. Braun Medical Inc.500 × 2424
00338-0424-18Heparin (Porcine) In NaClBaxter Healthcare Corporation500 × 1818
00338-0431-03Heparin SodiumBaxter Healthcare Corporation500 × 1818
00338-0433-04Heparin (Porcine) In NaclBaxter Healthcare Corporation1000 × 1224
00404-9872-01Heparin SodiumHenry Schein Inc.1 × 15
00404-9873-01Heparin SodiumHenry Schein Inc.1 × 110
00404-9979-01Heparin SodiumHenry Schein Inc.1 × 11
00409-0012-30Heparin Sodium in NaClPfizer Inc250 × 30375
00409-1005-20Heparin Sodium in NaClPfizer Inc500 × 2020
00409-1316-32Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Pfizer Inc0.5 × 50250
00409-1402-12Heparin SodiumPfizer Inc1 × 50250
00409-2222-12Heparin Sodium in NaClPfizer Inc1000 × 1224
00409-2720-01Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Pfizer Inc1 × 2525
00409-2720-02Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Pfizer Inc10 × 25250
00409-2720-03Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Pfizer Inc30 × 25750
00409-2721-01Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Pfizer Inc1 × 25250
00409-2723-01Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Pfizer Inc1 × 25125
00409-2723-02Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Pfizer Inc10 × 251250
00409-3150-20Heparin Sodium in NaClPfizer Inc500 × 20500
00409-4520-30Heparin SodiumPfizer Inc250 × 30750
00409-7620-03Heparin (Porcine) In NaclPfizer Inc500 × 1818
00409-7620-59Heparin Sodium in NaClPfizer Inc1000 × 1224
00409-7650-30Heparin Sodium in NaClPfizer Inc250 × 30750
00409-7650-62Heparin (Porcine) In NaclPfizer Inc250 × 24600
00641-0391-12Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.1 × 2525
00641-0400-12Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.1 × 25125
00641-0410-12Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.1 × 25250
00641-2460-55Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.10 × 251250
00641-6199-10Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.1 × 1050
00641-6204-10Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.0.5 × 1050
00781-3538-25Heparin SodiumSandoz Inc.1 × 2525
00781-3540-25Heparin SodiumSandoz Inc.10 × 25250
00781-3543-25Heparin SodiumSandoz Inc.30 × 25750
00781-3545-25Heparin SodiumSandoz Inc.1 × 25125
00781-3550-25Heparin SodiumSandoz Inc.10 × 251250
00781-3555-25Heparin SodiumSandoz Inc.2 × 2550
25021-0400-01Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Sagent Pharmaceuticals1 × 2525
25021-0400-10Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Sagent Pharmaceuticals10 × 25250
25021-0400-30Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Sagent Pharmaceuticals30 × 25750
25021-0400-66Heparin SodiumSagent Pharmaceuticals1 × 2525
25021-0400-67Heparin SodiumSagent Pharmaceuticals10 × 25250
25021-0400-68Heparin SodiumSagent Pharmaceuticals30 × 25750
25021-0401-02Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Sagent Pharmaceuticals2 × 2550
25021-0402-01Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Sagent Pharmaceuticals1 × 25125
25021-0402-10Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Sagent Pharmaceuticals10 × 251250
25021-0402-66Heparin SodiumSagent Pharmaceuticals1 × 25125
25021-0403-01Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Sagent Pharmaceuticals1 × 25250
25021-0403-04Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Sagent Pharmaceuticals4 × 251000
25021-0403-66Heparin SodiumSagent Pharmaceuticals1 × 25250
25021-0404-01Heparin Sodium (Porcine)Sagent Pharmaceuticals1 × 25500
51662-1409-01Heparin SodiumHF Acquisition Co. LLC, DBA HealthFirst5 × 150
51662-1409-03Heparin SodiumHF Acquisition Co. LLC, DBA HealthFirst5 × 251250
51662-1411-01Heparin Sodium in NaClHF Acquisition Co. LLC, DBA HealthFirst250 × 125
Showing 60 of 138 NDCs.

Medically Unlikely Edits (MUE)

CMS publishes 3 MUE values for J1644. For practitioners the limit is 40 units per date of service with adjudication indicator 3, a date-of-service clinical edit: units above the limit deny but can be paid on appeal with documentation that the quantity was medically reasonable.

MUE values for J1644 by setting
SettingMUE (units/DOS)MAICMS rationale
Practitioner services403 Date of Service Edit: ClinicalClinical: Data
Facility outpatient hospital503 Date of Service Edit: ClinicalClinical: Data
DME supplier03 Date of Service Edit: ClinicalCMS Policy

NCCI edits and add-on relationships

In the practitioner PTP file v323r0 (effective October 1, 2026), J1644 is the column-2 code in 299 active pairs, 100% of which allow a modifier (indicator 1), and the column-1 code in 0. 45 historical pairs have been deleted over time. CMS's most frequent rationale: Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code.

When billed with these column-1 codes, J1644 is the bundled component unless the pair allows a modifier and the documentation supports a distinct service.

Column-1 codes most often paired with J1644
Column-1 codePairs
0345T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
0483T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
0484T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
0505T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
0541T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
0542T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
0544T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
0584T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
0620T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1
0632T (CPT; descriptor licensed by AMA)1

J1644 is neither an add-on code nor a designated primary code in the 2026 Q4 NCCI add-on edit file.

Medicare coverage articles

No current Billing and Coding Article lists J1644 in its HCPCS table. Coverage then follows the drug's FDA label, compendia and any National Coverage Determination; check the Medicare Coverage Database before administering off-label.

Hospital outpatient (OPPS) status

In the July 2026 OPPS Addendum B, J1644 carries status indicator N. Status N means payment is packaged into the associated procedure and no separate OPPS payment is made.

Common denials for J1644 and how to prevent them

CARC 16 · M119

NDC missing, invalid or not matched to the HCPCS code

CARC 151 · N362

units billed exceed the MUE for the date of service

CARC 50 · N115

diagnosis not covered by the applicable coverage article or LCD

How QuickIntell checks J1644 before the claim leaves

QuickCode validates the NDC-to-unit conversion against the current ASP crosswalk, checks units against every published MUE setting and flags PTP and add-on conflicts on the same claim. QuickRCM routes CARC 16, 151 and 50 denials on drug lines with the matching coverage article attached so the appeal starts with evidence.

Explore QuickCodeExplore QuickRCMBook a demo

Frequently asked questions — HCPCS J1644

What does HCPCS code J1644 describe?

J1644 is defined by CMS as "Injection, heparin sodium, per 1000 units". Each billing unit represents 1000 UNITS, so the units reported on the claim must equal the dose administered divided by that unit.

What is the Medicare reimbursement for J1644 in October 2026?

The ASP-based payment limit is $0.201 per 1000 UNITS, with 20% beneficiary coinsurance. Medicare Administrative Contractors apply this limit; commercial payers use their own fee schedules. The July 2026 limit was $0.199.

How many units of J1644 can be billed per day?

The practitioner Medically Unlikely Edit is 40 units per date of service with adjudication indicator 3 (3 Date of Service Edit: Clinical). MAI 3 edits can be appealed with documentation that the units were medically reasonable. CMS cites "Clinical: Data" as the rationale.

Which NDCs map to J1644?

The October 2026 ASP crosswalk lists 138 NDCs from 17 labelers: Heparin Sodium in NaCl (B. Braun Medical Inc.); Heparin Sodium (Porcine) (B. Braun Medical Inc.); Heparin (Porcine) In D5W (B. Braun Medical Inc.); Heparin Sodium (B. Braun Medical Inc.). For example NDC 00264-3301-10 is a 500 package equal to 600 billing units. The crosswalk's billing-units-per-package figure converts each package into J1644 units.

Does J1644 have NCCI bundling edits?

In the v323r0 practitioner PTP file, J1644 appears as the column-2 (bundled) code in 299 active pairs and as the column-1 code in 0. 100% of the column-2 pairs allow a modifier (indicator 1). The most frequent column-1 partners are 0345T, 0483T, 0484T, 0505T, 0541T, and CMS's leading rationale is "Misuse of Column Two code with Column One code".

Sources

Every figure on this page is taken from the CMS publications below, as released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Projection built 2026-10-01. Verify against the primary file before billing or contracting decisions.

Disclaimer

This page is an operational reference compiled from CMS publications: the Medicare Part B drug payment limit and NDC crosswalk files, NCCI MUE and add-on edit tables, aggregate PTP statistics, OPPS Addendum B and the Medicare Coverage Database. Payment limits are Medicare national amounts; commercial and Medicaid payers differ. CPT codes are shown as numbers only; CPT descriptors are copyright AMA. Nothing here is legal, clinical or billing advice.