Drugs & infusions
J0561 — Penicillin G benzathine, per 100,000 units
This is an antibiotic injection used to treat bacterial infections, most commonly strep throat or syphilis.
- Typical setting: Outpatient clinic, hospital, IV infusion suite
- National avg charge (illustrative): $10–$50 per injection (drug cost); administration fee billed separately
- Most-disputed reason: Quantity inflation: a 2.4 million unit injection = 24 units of J0561; billing 240 units is a 10x error
What it means
What J0561 actually means
This is an antibiotic injection used to treat bacterial infections, most commonly strep throat or syphilis. A typical adult dose is 1,200,000–2,400,000 units, which means the bill should show 12 to 24 units of J0561.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Quantity inflation: a 2.4 million unit injection = 24 units of J0561; billing 240 units is a 10x error
- Billing administration code 96372 separately when included in office visit
- Wrong code used when Bicillin C-R (combination) is given instead of Bicillin L-A
If you see J0561 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on J0561 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see J0561 on a bill.
J0561 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does J0561 usually cost?
$10–$50 per injection (drug cost); administration fee billed separately. Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on J0561?
Quantity inflation: a 2.4 million unit injection = 24 units of J0561; billing 240 units is a 10x error
What should I do if I see J0561 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to J0561 before paying.
Don't pay J0561 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.