UB04 Admission Hour Code 16: 04:00 PM - 04:59 PM

Introduction

Admission Hour Code 16 represents a patient admission occurring between 04:00 PM and 04:59 PM. This code is reported in Field 13: Admission Hour to document the precise hour the patient was formally admitted to the facility for inpatient or outpatient services.

Usage

This code is utilized by institutional providers to track the timing of patient intake, which is essential for calculating the initial length of stay and room charges. It applies to all patients admitted during the late afternoon window, regardless of whether they entered through the emergency department or as a scheduled direct admission.

Billing Impact

Accurate reporting of the admission hour is critical for medical necessity audits and can influence the determination of the first billable day of service under various payer contracts.