UB04 Patient Discharge Status Code 30: Still a patient

Overview

Discharge Status Code 30 indicates the patient remains at the healthcare facility and has not been discharged. According to Noridian's patient status code list, "30: Still a patient" ^[1]. This code is used when a patient is still under care at the reporting facility and no discharge event has occurred. Unlike other discharge codes that indicate a patient left the facility, code 30 explicitly communicates that the patient remains an inpatient or resident at the time of claim submission. This is distinct from code 09 ("Admitted as an inpatient to this hospital"), which indicates a new admission, and other codes that mark transfers, deaths, or discharges to other settings. The code 30 is essential for hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and other institutional providers to accurately report continuing patient status when submitting interim claims or when a patient has not yet been discharged at the billing cycle end.

When to Use

Use code 30 when the patient is still physically present at the facility and has not been discharged, transferred, or expired at the time the claim is submitted. The code should never be used when the patient has been discharged to home, transferred to another facility, left against medical advice, or expired. According to Noridian's complete list, all other codes (01-99) indicate some form of discharge or expiration event ^[1]. Providers must ensure code 30 is not substituted for codes like 09 (admission) or any discharge codes. The MassHealth UB-04 billing guide confirms the claim form uses standard code sets, including discharge status codes ^[2]. When the patient does eventually leave, the final claim must reflect the appropriate discharge code (e.g., 01 for home, 65 for psychiatric hospital).

Step-by-Step Claim Example

A patient admitted to a community hospital for a stroke on March 1 remains hospitalized through March 31. The hospital bills an interim inpatient claim for March services. The claim includes all services rendered through March 31. The patient remains in the hospital through April 15 and is then discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF). On the final claim for April 1–15 services, the biller changes Field 17 to "03" (discharged/transferred to SNF with Medicare certification) ^[1]. The MassHealth guide notes providers must use correct code sets for claims ^[2]. The biller ensures Field 17 shows code 30 only for the interim claim, not the final discharge claim. For a psychiatric hospital interim bill, the same process applies—use code 30 until the patient is discharged with code 65 (psychiatric hospital) on the final claim.

Common Mistakes & Audit Red Flags

A frequent error is using code 30 on final discharge claims where the patient has actually left the facility. This misrepresentation can trigger audits, as payers expect accurate discharge status. Another mistake is failing to update code 30 to the correct discharge code on final claims, potentially leading to payment denials or recoupments. Providers sometimes confuse code 30 with code 09 (admission), but code 09 is for admitting a new patient, while code 30 indicates the patient remains from a prior period. Using code 30 for patients who have expired, left against medical advice, or transferred violates billing rules and may constitute fraud. Audit red flags include: multiple consecutive claims with code 30 for the same patient without eventual discharge, using code 30 for hospice patients (who should use codes 50-51), or using code 30 for patients in swing bed situations. The MassHealth guide emphasizes correct code sets for UB-04 claims ^[2].

Related Codes/Fields

Below is a table of related discharge status codes and corresponding UB-04 fields.

Code	Meaning	Related Field	Notes
01	Discharged to home/self-care	Field 17	Routine discharge
02	Transferred to short-term general hospital	Field 17	Inpatient transfer
03	Transferred to SNF (Medicare certified)	Field 17	Requires certification
09	Admitted as inpatient to this hospital	Field 17	New admission, not continuing patient
20	Expired	Field 17	Death in facility
30	Still a patient	Field 17	No discharge event occurred
40	Expired at home	Field 17	Death after discharge
50	Hospice - home	Field 17	Home hospice
51	Hospice - medical facility	Field 17	Facility-based hospice
65	Transferred to psychiatric hospital	Field 17	Includes psychiatric units
70	Transferred to other health care institution	Field 17	Default for unspecified transfer

All codes are from Noridian's patient status list ^[1]. Field 17 on the UB-04 is the only field for discharge status ^[2].

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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