Glaukos Corporation announced the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has assigned a unique, permanent Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) J-code for Epioxa HD/Epioxa for the treatment of keratoconus. Glaukos said in a news release that the new J-code for Epioxa, J2789, is set to become effective July 1, 2026, and is expected to streamline the reporting and payment of Epioxa by US payers over time. It has been published on the CMS website.

“The assignment of a product-specific J-code for Epioxa represents an important milestone, supporting our market access initiatives to increase access and expand coverage for patients suffering from keratoconus,” said Thomas Burns, Glaukos chairman and chief executive officer in the news release. “Once effective, this new J-code is expected to enable more streamlined and consistent coverage and payment for Epioxa over time, strengthening the foundation for our commercial launch and enabling broader patient access.”

J-codes are reported by US health care providers and used by US government and commercial payers to streamline the billing and reimbursement process for pharmaceuticals, such as Epioxa, administered by a health care professional. According to Glaukos, Epioxa offers an incision-free alternative to traditional corneal cross-linking procedures as it does not require the removal of the corneal epithelium. This novel, oxygen-enriched topical therapeutic, bioactivated by UV light, is designed to eliminate the pain associated with removal of the epithelium, streamline the procedure, and minimize recovery, the company said.