UB04 Patient Discharge Status Code 82: Discharged/transferred to a short term general hospital for inpatient care with a planned acute care hospital readmission

Overview

Discharge status code 82 indicates that the patient was discharged or transferred to a short‑term general hospital for inpatient care with a planned acute care hospital inpatient readmission. This code became effective on October 1, 2013, as part of a group of new codes that specifically denote a planned readmission to an acute care hospital after the transfer to another facility. ^[1] Unlike code 02, which records a simple transfer to a short‑term general hospital without a planned readmission, code 82 signals that the receiving facility will readmit the patient back to an acute care hospital for a planned procedure or treatment. The “planned” designation distinguishes this code from unplanned emergency transfers or readmissions. Code 82 is one of fourteen codes (81–94) that add the “planned acute care hospital inpatient readmission” modifier to existing transfer/discharge codes.

When to Use

The “planned” requirement must be documented in the medical record. Also, if the patient is discharged home (not transferred) but a readmission is planned, use code 81 instead. If the patient is transferred to a short‑term general hospital without a planned acute readmission, use code 02. Code 82 only applies when both the transfer and the planned acute care readmission are present.

Step-by-Step Claim Example

Scenario: A patient is hospitalized at Hospital A (an acute care hospital) for a complex cardiac condition. Hospital A does not have an electrophysiology lab, so the patient is transferred to Hospital B (a short‑term general hospital) for temporary monitoring. The cardiologist at Hospital A plans to readmit the patient back to Hospital A for a scheduled ablation procedure within 72 hours of the transfer.

Claim preparation for Hospital A (transferring facility):

1. Field 17 – Patient Discharge Status: Enter code 82 – “Discharged/transferred to a short term general hospital for inpatient care with a planned acute care hospital readmission.” ^[1]
2. Field 19 – Condition Codes (if required): According to payer instructions, a condition code may be needed to identify the planned readmission. (Note: No condition code is mandated by the Noridian source, but check the specific payer manual—e.g., some plans use condition code 40.)
3. Field 21 – Payer Identification: Enter the primary payer information (e.g., Medicare, MassHealth).
4. Field 23 – Medical Record Number: Include the patient’s medical record number.
5. Fields 50–66 – Revenue Codes and Charges: Bill for all inpatient services provided up to the transfer date.

After the ablation, Hospital A will bill separately for the readmission episode. The claim for the initial stay (with code 82) documents that the discharge/transfer was part of a planned two-stage treatment. ^[2] (The MassHealth guide confirms that UB‑04 is used by acute inpatient hospitals and that discharge status codes are entered in Field 17.)

Common Mistakes & Audit Red Flags

• Using code 02 instead of code 82: The most frequent error is failing to use the planned‑readmission version when a readmission is scheduled. Code 02 (transfer without planned readmission) will trigger denials or incorrect payment if the readmission later occurs. ^[1]
• Using code 82 without a documented planned readmission: Auditors will check medical records for a written plan for the acute care hospital readmission. If no such plan exists, the claim may be recoded to code 02 or denied.
• Coding as “discharged to home” with code 81 when the patient was transferred: Code 81 is for patients discharged home, not transferred. Using the wrong code misrepresents the discharge location and planned readmission status.
• Omitting the planned readmission in the discharge summary: The discharge summary should state the specific planned procedure, expected hospital, and timeline. Failure to do so is a red flag for auditors.
• Applying code 82 to transfers to non‑hospital facilities (e.g., SNF, IRF): Those transfers have their own planned‑readmission codes (83–94) and should not be coded with 82.
• Effective date errors: Code 82 was added on October 1, 2013. Claims for discharges before that date must use code 02. ^[1]

Related Codes/Fields

The following table lists discharge status codes that include the “planned acute care hospital inpatient readmission” modifier, as well as the base codes without the modifier. All definitions are from the Noridian Patient Status code list. ^[1]

Code	Meaning	Related Base Code
81	Discharged to home/self-care with planned acute care readmission	01
82	Discharged/transferred to short‑term general hospital for inpatient care with planned acute care readmission	02
83	Discharged/transferred to SNF (Medicare certified) with planned acute care readmission	03
84	Discharged/transferred to custodial/supportive care facility with planned acute care readmission	04
85	Discharged/transferred to designated cancer center or children’s hospital with planned acute care readmission	05
86	Discharged/transferred to home under organized home health care with planned acute care readmission	06
87	Discharged/transferred to court/law enforcement with planned acute care readmission	21
88	Discharged/transferred to federal health care facility with planned acute care readmission	43
89	Discharged/transferred to hospital‑based swing bed with planned acute care readmission	61
90	Discharged/transferred to IRF including rehab distinct part unit with planned acute care readmission	62
91	Discharged/transferred to Medicare certified LTCH with planned acute care readmission	63
92	Discharged/transferred to nursing facility (Medicaid only) with planned acute care readmission	64
93	Discharged/transferred to psychiatric hospital or unit with planned acute care readmission	65
94	Discharged/transferred to critical access hospital (CAH) with planned acute care readmission	66

Note: Codes 81–94 are effective October 1, 2013.
Field 17 on the UB‑04 is where discharge status codes are entered. ^[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