Hospice Billing

Medicare Hospice Quick Reference Sheet

The codes listed below are only those most frequently applicable to hospice claims. For a complete list of codes, see the NUBC manual. The NUBC maintains the UB-04 data element specifications and revenue code tables. They may be contacted for subscription to the UB-04 at the NUBC website.

Table of Contents

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Type of Bill for Hospice (FL4)

X=1 non hospital based X=2 hospital based
8XA Notice of Election (NOE) 8X3 Continuing claim (interim)
8XB Notice of Termination/Revocation (NOTR) 8X4 Discharge claim (final)
8XC Change of hospice (transfer) 8X7 Adjustment claim
8XD Cancel NOE 8X8 Cancel claim
8X0 Nonpayment claim    
8X1 Admit thru discharge (in the same month) 8XH CERT Adjusted Claim
8X2 First claim in the series (Interim)    

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Claim Change Reason Code (FL 18-28) and Adjustment Reason Code

Description CCRC ARC TOB
Change in dates of service D0 RF 8X7
Change in charges D1 RG 8X7
Change in revenue HCPCS code D2 RH 8X7
Cancel to correct provider #/HICN D5 RI 8X8
Cancel duplicate or OIG payment D6 RJ 8X8
Any other multiple changes(s) D9 RM 8X7
Change in patient status E0 RN 8X7

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Patient Status Codes (LF17) as of “To” date on claim

Code Description
01 Discharged to home/self-care
30 Still a patient or exp. To return for OP services
40 Expired at home-hospice only
41 Expired in medical facility- hospice only
42 Expired place unknown- hospice only
50 Transferred to hospice home
51 Transferred to hospice medical facility

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Occurrence Codes (FL 31-34)

Code Description
27 Date of certification or recertification
42 Date of revocation (ONLY)
55 Date of death (when patient status = 40, 41, 42)

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Condition Codes (FL 18-28)

Code Description
H2 Discharge for cause (i.e. patient/staff safety)
52 Discharge for patient unavailability, in ability to receive care, or out of service area
85 Effective for claims received on or after 1/1/2017. This code indicates the hospice received the recertification of terminal illness later than 2 days after the first day of a new benefit period. This code is reported with OSC 77, which reports the provider liable days associated with the untimely recertification.

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Occurrence Span Codes (FL 35-36)

Code Description
77 Noncovered days due to untimely recertification or untimely NOE
M2 Multiple respite stays, From/To dates of each stay

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Level of Care Revenue Codes (RCs) (UB-04 FLs 42-43)

Level of Care Reporting HCPCS Place of Service
Level of Care Revenue Code Acceptable Site of Service Codes Q5001 – Patient’s home/residence
Q5002 - Assisted living
Q5003 – LTC or nonskilled NF (receiving unskilled care)
Q5004 – Skilled nursing facility (receiving skilled care)
Q5005 – Inpatient hospital
Q5006 – Inpatient hospice facility
Q5007 – Long term care hospital
Q5008 – Inpatient psychiatric facility
Q5009 – Place not otherwise specified
Q5010 – Hospice residential facility
Routine Home Care (RHC) 0651 Q5001-Q5010
Continuous Home Care 0652 Q5001-Q5003, Q5009, Q5010
Respite Care 0655 Q5003- Q5009
General Inpatient Care 0656 Q5004-Q5009

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Visit (Discipline) HCPCS Code Reporting (UB-04 FL 44)

Discipline Visit Description Revenue Code HCPCS Codes Description
Physical therapy 042X G0151 Services of a physical therapist in home health or hospice settings, each 15 minutes
Occupational therapy 043X G0152 Services of an occupational therapist in home health or hospice settings, each 15 minutes
Speech language pathology 044X G0153 Services of a speech and language pathologist in home health or hospice settings, each 15 minutes
Skilled nursing 055X G0299 Direct skilled nursing services of a registered nurse (RN) in the home health or hospice setting, each 15 minutes
Skilled nursing 055X G0300 Direct skilled nursing of a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in the home health or hospice setting, each 15 minutes
Medical social service (visit) 056X G0155 Services of clinical social worker in home health or hospice setting, each 15 minutes
Medical social service (phone call) 056X G0155 Services of clinical social worker in home health or hospice setting, each 15 minutes
Home health aide 057X G0156 Services of home health/hospice aide in home health or hospice settings, each 15 minutes

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Modifiers (UB-04 FL 44)

Modifier Description Reference
KX Modifier is reported when requesting an exception to the Notice of Election (NOE) timely filing requirements More information on appropriate use of the KX modifier can be found on our website in the Notice of Election: Timely Filing of Hospice Elections Job Aid.
PM Modifier is reported with the visit HCPCS codes when visits occur on the date of death, after the patient has passed away. Post mortem visits occurring on a date subsequent to the date of death shall not be reported. More information on the appropriate reporting of the post mortem modifier can be found on our website in the current version of the Hospice Change Request 8358 Questions and Answers.

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