Glaukos Corporation announced that the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has assigned a unique, permanent Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) J-code for its keratoconus treatment, Epioxa HD/Epioxa.

The newly designated code, J2789, will take effect on July 1, 2026, and is expected to streamline billing and reimbursement processes for health care providers and payers across the United States. J-codes are used by providers to report physician-administered drugs and biologics, enabling both government and commercial insurers to standardize reimbursement. 

“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, chairman and chief executive officer of Glaukos. “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.”

The FDA approved Epioxa HD/Epioxa in October, making it the first and only FDA-approved, incision-free, topical drug therapy for keratoconus. Unlike traditional corneal cross-linking procedures, which require removal of the corneal epithelium, Epioxa is designed as an incision-free, epithelium-sparing therapy. The treatment uses an oxygen-enriched topical formulation that is bioactivated by ultraviolet (UV) light.