Glaukos Corporation announced that Epioxa HD / Epioxa has received a J-code from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS).
Let’s start with a look at this therapy.
Epioxa is the first and only epithelium (epi-on), minimally-invasive corneal crosslinking (CXL) therapy for the treatment of keratoconus.
Its regulatory status:
- Approved by the FDA in October 2025,
- Commercially launched to the U.S. market in March 2026
Give me the rundown on it.
What it is: A novel, oxygen-enriched, ultraviolet (UV)-activated, and non-invasive (epi-on) CXL approach that strengthens the cornea without needing surgery (ie: a traditional CXL procedure).
Its formulation consists of: Epioxa HD (riboflavin 5’-phosphate ophthalmic solution) 0.239% / Epioxa (riboflavin 5’-phosphate ophthalmic solution) 0.177%
- The indication: For use in epi-on corneal collagen CXL to treat keratoconus in patients 13+
- The recommended dosage: Available as a single-dose syringe administered via topical ophthalmic application
- This applies to both Epioxa and Epioxa HD, as per its prescribing information (which can be viewed here)
Can we get more specific on how this therapy works?
Click here to check out our abbreviated rundown on everything Epioxa-related, including:
- How it halts disease progression
- More info on the novel formulations
- How it stacks up against other keratoconus treatments
- Its differences from Photorexa (epi-off)
- Contraindications and adverse effects associated with its use
How did it perform in clinical trials?
For the sake of brevity, see here for those details.
Now this J-code … Give me a refresher on what it is.
A J-code is a permanent reimbursement, Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II code used to designate non-orally administered drugs and other medical devices.
- Note: HCPCS standardizes claims for medical services and supplies.
Also, this type of code is used by government payors and commercial insurers to simplify and facilitate the billing and reimbursement process for medical providers’ products and services.
How does this differ from other HCPCS codes?
Here’s a breakdown of the three major codes:
- J-codes (J0120 - J8999) refer to drugs administered via routes that exclude oral methods.
- C-codes (C1713 - 9899) refer to the outpatient prospective patient system (OPPS).
- V-codes (V2020 - V2799) refer to vision services.
Gotcha. So what’s Epioxa’s new code?
Per CMS: J2789.
See it here (scroll to page 10).
And its coding level?
That would be Level II.
While CPT (Level I ) codes are used for procedures, Level II codes are used to bill insurance for non-orally administered drugs, including injections, intravenous (IV) infusions, and chemotherapy.
Now the big question: When is this J-code effective?
July 1, 2026.