UB-04 Patient Discharge Status Code 51: Discharged/transferred to Hospice - medical facility (certified) providing hospice level of care

Overview

Patient Discharge Status Code 51 is used on the UB‑04 claim form to indicate that a patient was discharged or transferred to a hospice medical facility that is certified and provides a hospice level of care. ^[1] The UB‑04 form includes a specific field for capturing the patient’s discharge disposition, and code 51 is one of the standard values defined by Medicare and other payers. ^[2] This code distinguishes an inpatient hospice facility stay from home‑based hospice services, which are reported under code 50. ^[1]

When to Use

Do not use code 51 for patients discharged to hospice care provided at home; use code 50 (Hospice – home) instead. ^[1] Use code 51 only when the receiving facility is both certified and actively providing a hospice level of care at the time of transition. Do not use it for transfers to facilities that only arrange hospice services without providing direct inpatient care.

Step-by-Step Claim Example

A patient is discharged from an acute care hospital and admitted to a Medicare‑certified inpatient hospice facility. The hospital’s billing staff completes the UB‑04 claim form:

• Field – Patient Discharge Status: Enter 51. ^[1]
• All other UB‑04 fields (e.g., provider identification, dates of service, revenue codes) must be completed per standard billing guidelines. ^[2] The claim is then submitted to the appropriate payer using the required electronic or paper format.

Common Mistakes & Audit Red Flags

• Applying code 51 to non‑certified facilities: The receiving facility must hold Medicare certification as a hospice provider. Claims with code 51 for uncertified facilities may be denied or recouped.
• Mixing code 51 with discharge to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) that also provides hospice: If the patient is discharged to an SNF primarily for skilled nursing care, code 03 (SNF with Medicare certification) is appropriate, not code 51. ^[1]
• Failure to document the transfer: Auditors will look for documentation supporting the certification status and level of care at the receiving hospice facility. Lack of evidence can lead to claim denials.

Related Codes/Fields

The following table lists patient discharge status codes most commonly related to code 51. All values are from the standard Medicare code set. ^[1]

Code	Meaning	Notes
50	Hospice – home	Used for hospice care provided in the patient’s residence.
51	Hospice – medical facility (certified) providing hospice level of care	This article’s focus.
01	Discharged to home or self‑care	Routine discharge, not hospice‑related.
03	Discharged/transferred to SNF with Medicare certification	Often confused with code 51 when hospice services are provided in an SNF.
04	Discharged/transferred to a facility that provides custodial or supportive care	General custodial care, not hospice‑certified.

The field containing the discharge status code is located in field 17 on the UB‑04 claim form. ^[2] Providers should verify payer‑specific requirements, as some payers may require additional documentation when code 51 is submitted.

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References

[1] Noridian Patient Status — https://med.noridianmedicare.com/web/jea/topics/claim-submission/patient-discharge-status-codes

[2] MassHealth UB-04 Guide — https://www.mass.gov/doc/ub-04-billing-guide-0/download