Photo Credit: Glaukos
New J-code for EpioxaTM, J2789, set to become effective July 1, 2026
April 15, 2026
Glaukos Corporation (NYSE: GKOS) announced the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has assigned a unique, permanent Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) J-code for EpioxaTM HD / EpioxaTM (“Epioxa”) for the treatment of keratoconus, a rare, sight-threatening disease that is currently far too often undiagnosed and untreated.
The new J-code for Epioxa, J2789, is set to become effective July 1, 2026. It is expected to streamline the reporting and payment of Epioxa by U.S. payers over time, and has been published here 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. “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 U.S. health care providers and used by U.S. government and commercial payers to streamline the billing and reimbursement process for pharmaceuticals, such as Epioxa, administered by a health care professional. Epioxa represents a transformative innovation in keratoconus care, offering an incision-free alternative to traditional corneal cross-linking procedures as it does not require the removal of the corneal epithelium, the outermost layer of the front of the eye. 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, all while delivering clinically meaningful outcomes and exceptional value to patients, providers and the health care system.
