UB04 Patient Discharge Status Code 70: Discharged/transferred to another type of health care institution not defined elsewhere in this code list

Overview

Patient discharge status code 70 indicates that the patient was discharged or transferred to another type of health care institution not defined elsewhere in the code list. ^[1] This code serves as a catch‑all for transfers to institutional settings that do not fit any of the more specific codes (01–69, 81–94). ^[1] It is intended for health care institutions that are not described by any other defined category, ensuring that the discharge location is still identified even when no precise match exists. ^[1]

When to Use

Use code 70 when the patient is discharged or transferred to a health care institution that does not correspond to any of the other defined discharge status codes. ^[1] This code should only be selected after verifying that the receiving facility does not meet the definitions of codes 02 (short‑term hospital), 03 (SNF), 04 (custodial care), 05 (cancer/children’s hospital), 06 (home health), 43 (federal facility), 50/51 (hospice), 61 (swing bed), 62 (IRF), 63 (LTCH), 64 (Medicaid nursing facility), 65 (psychiatric hospital), 66 (CAH), or any other listed code. ^[1] The code explicitly excludes any institution already defined in the code list. ^[1] Providers should document the type of receiving institution in the medical record to support the selection of code 70. ^[1]

Step‑by‑Step Claim Example

Step 4: Submit the claim according to payer requirements. The medical record should document why the receiving institution does not fit any defined code. ^[1] This example illustrates using code 70 as a last‑resort code for transfers to institutions not otherwise defined. ^[1]

Common Mistakes & Audit Red Flags

A common mistake is using code 70 when a more specific code exists, such as applying it for a transfer to a skilled nursing facility because the provider was unaware of code 03. ^[1] Auditors may flag high usage of code 70, as it can indicate a lack of understanding of the code set or an attempt to avoid specificity. ^[1] Another mistake is using code 70 for transfers to home health (code 06) or hospice (codes 50/51). ^[1] Providers should ensure the receiving institution truly does not fit any other defined category. ^[1] Red flags also arise if code 70 is used for discharges that are clearly to a short‑term general hospital or other defined setting. ^[1] To avoid audits, providers must maintain clear documentation of the receiving institution’s type and why no more specific code applies. ^[1]

Related Codes/Fields

The patient discharge status field on the UB‑04 (often referred to as Field 17) contains a code from the list maintained by CMS. ^[2] The table below shows selected related codes frequently used alongside or in contrast to code 70.

Code	Meaning	Source
01	Discharged to home or self‑care (routine discharge)	[1]
02	Discharged/transferred to a short‑term general hospital for inpatient care	[1]
03	Discharged/transferred to skilled nursing facility (SNF) with Medicare certification	[1]
62	Discharged/transferred to an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) including rehab distinct part units	[1]
65	Discharged/transferred to a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric distinct part unit	[1]
70	Discharged/transferred to another type of health care institution not defined elsewhere	[1]
81	Discharged to home with a planned acute care hospital inpatient readmission	[1]

Note: The full list includes codes 01–94 with planned readmission variants. Providers should consult the complete list to ensure accurate selection. ^[1]

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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