UB04 Admission Hour Code 04: 04:00 AM - 04:59 AM

Introduction

Admission Hour Code 04 identifies a patient admission that occurs during the fourth hour of the day, specifically between 04:00 AM and 04:59 AM. This code is reported in Field 13: Admission Hour.

Usage

This code is utilized by institutional providers to document the precise hour of a patient's arrival and formal admission to the facility. It is commonly used in emergency department transfers or early morning scheduled procedures to establish the start of the clinical encounter.

Billing Impact

Accurate reporting of the admission hour is essential for calculating the initial length of stay and can impact the validation of medical necessity for inpatient status versus observation.