HCPCS Code J9999: Not Otherwise Classified, Antineoplastic Drugs

HCPCS code J3490 is used for unclassified drugs that are not antineoplastic (non-chemotherapy) medications and do not have specific assigned codes. Unlike J9999, which is reserved exclusively for cancer medications, J3490 covers a broad range of therapeutic agents, including antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, hormones, and other pharmaceutical products that lack dedicated billing codes.

The HCPCS code for pembrolizumab (brand name Keytruda) is J9271, which represents injection, pembrolizumab, 1 mg. This specific code was assigned after pembrolizumab gained widespread clinical use and demonstrated significant therapeutic value across multiple cancer types, including melanoma, lung cancer, and various other malignancies.

HCPCS code J9299 represents nivolumab, 1 mg, which is an immune checkpoint inhibitor used in cancer treatment. However, while it is in the chemotherapy drugs range, it is an immunotherapy drug (a monoclonal antibody) that works by targeting the immune system, not by directly killing cancer cells like traditional chemotherapy.