Drugs & infusions
J1171 — Hydromorphone, 0.1 mg
Hydromorphone (brand name Dilaudid) is a potent opioid pain medication given by injection for severe pain, often in emergency departments or after surgery.
- Typical setting: Hospital, outpatient infusion center
- National avg charge (illustrative): $5–$20 per dose (drug cost)
- Most-disputed reason: Using deleted code J1170 (removed Oct 1, 2024) instead of current code J1171 — verify date of service
What it means
What J1171 actually means
Hydromorphone (brand name Dilaudid) is a potent opioid pain medication given by injection for severe pain, often in emergency departments or after surgery. A typical IV dose is 0.2–1 mg; at 0.1 mg per unit, expect 2–10 units on the bill. Note: Code J1170 was deleted October 1, 2024 and replaced by J1171.
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).
- Using deleted code J1170 (removed Oct 1, 2024) instead of current code J1171 — verify date of service
- Quantity inflation: 0.4 mg dose = 4 units of J1171; billing 40 units is a 10x overbill
- Billing an opioid without documentation of clinical necessity
If you see J1171 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 J1171 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see J1171 on a bill.
J1171 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does J1171 usually cost?
$5–$20 per dose (drug cost). 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 J1171?
Using deleted code J1170 (removed Oct 1, 2024) instead of current code J1171 — verify date of service
What should I do if I see J1171 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 J1171 before paying.
Don't pay J1171 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.