96485

96485 is a CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code used in the United States to report the administration of a therapeutic, diagnostic, or preventive injection or infusion given by a healthcare professional. The code is part of the CPT category that covers drug administration, which describes the act of delivering a medication rather than the medication itself. It is typically used for the initial administration of injectable therapies, including certain intravenous or subcutaneous infusions, and is commonly employed by physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other qualified clinicians.

In practice, 96485 is applied when a patient receives an injectable or infusion-based therapy that does not have a more specific, separate code. The medication being administered is billed separately with its own drug or biologic code (such as an HCPCS J-code or a similar medication code), while 96485 documents the administration event itself. Documentation generally includes the drug or biologic agent, the route of administration, the dosage, the starting time, and the patient’s status during administration. Payers may require additional modifiers to indicate factors such as duration, complexity, or whether the service was provided on the initial encounter.

CPT 96485 is often used for treatments such as certain biologic therapies or other injectable medications that are given by injection or infusion. It is one of several codes in the 96365–96499 range that cover various routes and durations of drug administration. The exact usage and requirements can vary by payer and CPT edition, so clinicians and billers routinely consult the current CPT manual and payer-specific guidelines.