UB04 Field 13: Admission Hour

Introduction

Field 13 (Admission Hour) is a critical data element on the UB-04 institutional claim form used to identify the specific hour the patient was admitted for care. Also referred to as Box 13, this field provides essential data for utilization review and clinical tracking. The hour of admission is reported using a two-digit code representing a 24-hour clock cycle.

Requirements

Requirement Type	Status
Inpatient Requirement	Required
Outpatient Requirement	Required
Data Format	Numeric (2 digits)
Description	Hour of patient's admission

Billing Tips

When completing Box 13, ensure the hour corresponds to the time the admission order was written or when the patient began receiving services. Use the 24-hour clock format (00-23). For example, if a patient is admitted at 3:30 PM, the correct code for Field 13 is '15'. If the exact time of admission is unknown, use code '99'. Accurate reporting in this field is necessary for both inpatient stays and specific outpatient encounters to ensure proper claim adjudication.

Code Reference

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