Drugs & infusions
J1885 — Ketorolac tromethamine, per 15 mg
Ketorolac (brand name Toradol) is a strong anti-inflammatory pain reliever given by injection, commonly used in emergency departments for pain like kidney stones, migraines, or post-surgery.
- Typical setting: Hospital, outpatient infusion center
- National avg charge (illustrative): $5–$20 per dose (drug cost)
- Most-disputed reason: Quantity inflation: 30 mg dose = 2 units of J1885; billing 20 units for a 30 mg dose is a 10x overbill
What it means
What J1885 actually means
Ketorolac (brand name Toradol) is a strong anti-inflammatory pain reliever given by injection, commonly used in emergency departments for pain like kidney stones, migraines, or post-surgery. A standard dose is 15–30 mg; a 30 mg dose should appear as 2 units on the bill.
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: 30 mg dose = 2 units of J1885; billing 20 units for a 30 mg dose is a 10x overbill
- Billing ketorolac alongside another NSAID on the same day (contraindicated and a billing red flag)
- Billing more than 5 days of ketorolac (FDA limits use to 5 days)
If you see J1885 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 J1885 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see J1885 on a bill.
J1885 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does J1885 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 J1885?
Quantity inflation: 30 mg dose = 2 units of J1885; billing 20 units for a 30 mg dose is a 10x overbill
What should I do if I see J1885 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 J1885 before paying.
Don't pay J1885 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.