UB04 Type of Bill Code 0132: Hospital Outpatient - Interim - First Claim

Overview

Type of Bill code 0132 is a four‑digit alphanumeric code used on the UB‑04 claim form. The leading zero is ignored by CMS, and the remaining three digits convey: facility type (1 = Hospital), type of care (3 = Outpatient), and frequency (2 = Interim – First Claim). ^[1]

This code indicates that the claim is for hospital outpatient services and is the first interim claim in a series. An interim claim is submitted before the patient’s entire course of outpatient treatment is complete, typically because the provider needs to bill for services rendered up to a certain date while the patient continues to receive care. ^[1]

When to Use

Use code 0132 when a hospital has provided outpatient services to a patient and the provider is submitting the first interim claim for that episode of care. This situation arises when the patient’s outpatient treatment spans multiple billing periods and the provider needs to receive partial payment before the entire course is finished. ^[1]

The code applies only to hospital outpatient departments (including hospital‑licensed health centers and other hospital satellites). It is not used for inpatient, skilled nursing, home health, or clinic‑based services. ^[1]

Subsequent interim claims for the same episode use frequency code 3 (Interim – Continuing Claims), and the final claim uses frequency code 4 (Interim – Last Claim). ^[1]

After the remaining three sessions are completed, the hospital would submit a second interim claim using code 0133 (Interim – Continuing Claims) and a final claim using code 0134 (Interim – Last Claim). ^[1]

• Using code 0132 for inpatient services: The third digit “3” means outpatient. If inpatient services are billed with this code, the claim will be rejected. ^[1]
• Omitting the leading zero: While CMS ignores it, some clearinghouses or payers may require the zero. Always enter 0132 as a four‑digit code. ^[1]
• Submitting an interim claim when the entire episode is complete: If the patient’s outpatient care is finished, use 0131 (Admit Through Discharge) instead. Using an interim code for a completed episode can delay payment and trigger an audit.
• Inconsistent statement‑covers period: The “From” and “Through” dates must match the dates of service on the claim. If the interim claim covers only part of the episode, the dates should reflect only that portion. ^[2]
• Failure to submit subsequent interim claims: After the first interim claim (0132), the next claim must use 0133 (Continuing) and the final claim 0134 (Last). Skipping a frequency code can cause duplicate payment or denial. ^[1]

Related Codes/Fields

The following table lists related Type of Bill codes for hospital outpatient services and their frequency meanings.

Code	Meaning	Source
0131	Hospital Outpatient – Admit Through Discharge (final claim for complete episode)	[1]
0132	Hospital Outpatient – Interim – First Claim	[1]
0133	Hospital Outpatient – Interim – Continuing Claims	[1]
0134	Hospital Outpatient – Interim – Last Claim	[1]
0135	Hospital Outpatient – Late Charge Only	[1]
0137	Hospital Outpatient – Replacement of Prior Claim	[1]
0138	Hospital Outpatient – Void/Cancel of Prior Claim	[1]

Related fields on the UB‑04:

• Field 4 – Type of Bill: Where code 0132 is entered.
• Field 6 – Statement Covers Period: Must reflect the dates of service for the interim period.
• Field 42 – Revenue Codes: Must be appropriate for outpatient hospital services (e.g., 0450 for emergency room, 0760 for treatment room).
• Field 50 – Payer Identification: Identifies the primary payer.

For complete UB‑04 instructions, refer to the MassHealth UB‑04 Billing Guide. ^[2]

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References

[1] Noridian Bill Types — https://med.noridianmedicare.com/web/jea/topics/claim-submission/bill-types

[2] MassHealth UB-04 Guide — https://www.mass.gov/doc/ub-04-billing-guide-0/download