Key Points of the UB-04 (2010 update)

Comparing the Current and Anticipated HIM-related Data Elements in the Uniform Bill HIM-related Data Element UB-92 Paper Format Current Electronic Transaction Upcoming UB-04 Requirements Need to Consider for Future Electronic Standard Update? Expansion of the diagnosis and procedure field sizes to accommodate ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes Does not accommodate Accommodates ICD-10-CM/PCS codes, but does not identify the assigned code version Field size will be increased to allow for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes Yes--even though the ICD-10 format can be accepted, the current electronic standard does not identify the version of ICD being submitted. Expansion of the number of fields for secondary diagnoses and distinct fields for E codes Does not accommodate Accommodates the increased number of secondary diagnoses but limits the number of E codes Number of secondary diagnoses will increase, and E codes will have distinct fields Yes--the current electronic standard will need to address the current E-code limitation. Addition of distinct fields for patient's reason for visit Uses FL76 as a dual field Uses FL76 as a dual field Will separate reason for visit into a separate field and will allow reporting of up to three codes Yes--the current electronic standard does not accommodate New field to denote version of ICD classification used Does not accommodate Does not accommodate Will have a separate field Yes--the current electronic standard does not accommodate Addition of national provider indicator Does not accommodate Does accommodate Will include this as a field No--the current electronic standard accommodates New field for diagnosis present at time of admission Does not accommodate Does not accommodate Will be a separate one-character field at the end of each diagnosis and E-code assigned Yes--the current electronic standard does not accommodate

Patient’s Reason for Visit

In the UB-04, the reason for visit has a designated FL (FL70a-c) and is used to capture as many as three reasons for visit codes for outpatient encounters.

According to the UB-04 manual, FL70a-c is used on outpatient claims to report the ICD-9-CM diagnosis code describing the patient’s stated reason for seeking care (or as stated by the patient’s representative). This may be a condition representing patient distress, an injury, a poisoning, or a reason or condition (not an illness or injury) such as follow-up or pregnancy in labor. In addition, the UB-04 manual specifies the patient’s reason for visit is required for all unscheduled outpatient visits. An unscheduled outpatient visit is defined as an outpatient type of bill 013X or 085X, together with FL14 codes 1, 2, or 5 and revenue codes 045X, 0516, 0526 or 0762 (observation room). In addition, the patient’s reason for visit can be reported for scheduled outpatient visits when the diagnosis codes provide additional information to support medical necessity.

Coding professionals should be aware that they can report as many as three reasons for visit codes for outpatient claims.

POA Indicator

The POA is a data element for the UB-04 (FL67, FL67A-FL67Q, FL72 a-c). Introduced as a result of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, reporting of the POA indicator has been mandated for inpatient prospective payment system hospitals since October 1, 2007. The POA indicator identifies whether a condition was present at the time that an order for inpatient admission occurs, including conditions that develop during an outpatient encounter such as an emergency department visit, observation, or outpatient surgery.

A POA indicator is listed next to each principal and secondary diagnosis code for claims involving inpatient admissions to general acute care hospitals. The intent is to differentiate POA conditions from those that develop during the inpatient admission. Specific details are available in appendix I of the “ICD-9-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting.”

The provider must report one of the five POA indicators for each diagnosis: 

Y = yes (POA at the time of inpatient admission)

N = no (not present at the time of inpatient admission)

U = unknown (documentation is insufficient to determine whether condition was present at the time of admission)

W = clinically undetermined (provider is unable to clinically determine whether condition was POA)

1 (on electronic claims) or blank (for paper claims) = exempt from POA reporting 

The consistent and accurate assignment of POA indicators has become an important responsibility for the HIM department and the facility.

UB-04 Compared to Electronic Institutional Claim, the ASC X12N 837 Version 5010

The paper UB-04 provides a placeholder for items that will be required for billing purposes in the future (for example, ICD-10-CM/PCS). The current version of the electronic institutional claim, the ASC X12N 837I version 4010, will be upgraded to version 5010 and will conform to the data elements that are now required on the paper UB-04. For instance, the paper UB-04 provides a new field to show which version of ICD is used. This cannot be reported in version 4010 but can be reported in version 5010. 

HIM professionals should be familiar with the planned upgrade to version 5010 and recognize the difference between the electronic version and the current paper UB-04. According to the Medicare Learning Network Matters article:²

Over 99 percent of Medicare Part A claims and over 95 percent of Medicare Part B claims transactions are received electronically and it is imperative that providers be ready for these new standards in order to continue submitting claims electronically.

Version 5010 of the HIPAA standards includes improvements in structural, front matter, technical, and data content (such as improved eligibility responses and better search options). It is more specific in requiring the data that is needed, collected, and transmitted in a transaction (such as tightened, clear situational rules, and in misunderstood areas such as corrections and reversals, refund processing, and recoupments). Further, the new claims transaction standard contains significant improvements for the reporting of clinical data, enabling the reporting of ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes and ICD-10-PCS procedure codes, and distinguishes between principal diagnosis, admitting diagnosis, external cause of injury and patient reason for visit codes. These distinctions will improve the understanding of clinical data and enable better monitoring of mortality rates for certain illnesses, outcomes for specific treatment options, and hospital length of stay for certain conditions, as well as the clinical reasons for why the patient sought hospital care.

Finally, Version 5010 also addresses a variety of currently unmet business needs, including an indicator on institutional claims for conditions that were “present on admission,” and accommodating the use of the ICD-10 code sets, which are not supported by Version 4010/4010A1.HIM professionals must be aware of the changes that will affect claim submission in both the electronic and paper environments. HIM professionals are encouraged to be proactive and to be a resource within their organizations when questions arise related to the HIM data elements included within the billing process.  

Resources for Updates

• NUBC, www.nubc.org
• AHIMA, www.ahima.org
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, www.cms.hhs.gov

Notes

1. Established in 1975, the NUBC is the official data content body responsible for maintaining the data set for institutional healthcare providers. Representation includes provider, payer, electronic standards development organizations, public health data standards organizations, and others. NUBC is also one of six designated standard maintenance organizations responsible for the maintenance and development of HIPAA administrative simplification transaction standards. Visit www.nubc.org for more information.
2. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “An Introductory Overview of the HIPAA 501.” MLN Matters Number: SE0904. Available online at www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0904.pdf.

References

AHIMA Clinical Terminology and Classification Practice Council. “Planning for Present on Admission.” Journal of AHIMA 78, no. 10 (Nov.-Dec. 2007): 73–77.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, “October 2009 Update of the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS).” Transmittal 1803, August 28, 2009. Available online at www.cms.hhs.gov/transmittals/downloads/R1803CP.pdf.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “Uniform Billing (UB-04) Implementation.” Transmittal 1104. November 3, 2006. Available online at www.cms.hhs.gov/transmittals/downloads/R1104CP.pdf.

Department of Health and Human Services, Health Insurance Reform; Modifications to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); Final Rules.” Federal Register 74, no. 11 (Jan. 16, 2009). Available online at www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a090116c.html.

Garrett, Gail. Present on Admission. Chicago, IL: AHIMA, 2009.

National Uniform Billing Committee. “UB-04 Change Implementation Calendar.” March 17, 2010. . Available online at www.nubc.org/public/whatsnew/UB-04_Change_Implementation_Date_Calendar.pdf.

National Center for Health Statistics. “ICD-9-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting.” Appendix I: Present on Admission Reporting Guidelines. October 1, 2009. Available online at www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd9cm_addenda_guidelines.htm.

National Uniform Billing Committee. Official UB-04 Data Specifications Manual 2010. Chicago, IL: American Hospital Association, 2009.

Prepared by

AHIMA Clinical Terminology and Classification Practice Council
Gail Garrett, RHIT
Therese Jorwic, MPH, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA
Natalie Novak, MHA, RHIA
Becky Ruhnau-Gee, MA, RHIA, CHDA, CCS
Shelley Safian, MAOM/HSM, CCS-P
Ann Zeisset, RHIT, CCS, CCS-P

Acknowledgments

Ann Barta, MSA, RHIA,
Judy A. Bielby, MBA, RHIA, CPHQ, CCS
Jill S. Clark, MBA, RHIA
Maggie Foley, PhD, RHIA
Kathy Giannangelo, MA, RHIA, CCS, CPHIMS, FAHIMA
Lou Ann Schraffenberger, MBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA

Prepared by (original)

AHIMA Clinical Terminology and Classification Practice Council 
Gail Garrett, RHIT
Kathy Johnson, RHIA
Laurine Johnson, MS, RHIA

Acknowledgments (original)

Sue Bowman, RHIA, CCS
Angie Comfort, RHIT, CCS
Jackie Miller, RHIA, CPC
Ann Zeisset, RHIT, CCS, CCS-P

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Article citation: AHIMA Clinical Terminology and Classification Practice Council; Garrett, Gail S.; Jorwic, Therese M; Novak, Natalie; Ruhnau-Gee, Becky; Safian, Shelly C; Zeisset, Ann M.. "Key Points of the UB-04 (2010 update)." Journal of AHIMA (Updated March 2010).

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