Primary Care Coding Alert

Question: My doctor is using Kenalog 40 (NDC 0003029328) from Bristol Myers Squibb. He says J3301 is not the correct code to bill because that is a generic code. Is there a different code to differentiate generics from non-generic when billing?

Arizona Subscriber

Answer: For Kenalog injections, you should use J3301 (Injection, triamcinolone acetonide, not otherwise specified, 10 mg) for the Kenalog itself. If you are using a preservative free version of the drug, then you should use J3300 (Injection, triamcinolone acetonide, preservative free, 1 mg).

Pointer: Pay careful attention to the code descriptors when reporting units. For J3300, you should report 1 unit per 1 mg. In contrast, you should report 1 unit per 10 mg for J3301.

These are the codes you should use, regardless of the company from whom you get the drug. Kenalog is the brand name, and the generic drug name is triamcinolone acetonide. The HCPCS tabular listing is arranged by generic drug name. If you look up triamcinolone acetonide, you'll see it lists J3300 and J3301 as the proper codes. The HCPCS drug table listing contains brand name as well. When you look up Kenalog, it refers you to J3301, which is triamcinolone acetonide that is not preservative free.