UB04 Type of Bill Code Digit: 4: Religious Non-Medical Health Care Institution (Hospital Boarding)

Introduction

The UB04 Digit 4: Religious Non-Medical Health Care Institution (Hospital Boarding) code is a specific sub-designation used to identify the type of facility providing services. This code is used in Field 4: UB04 Field 4: Type of Bill. It specifically identifies institutions that provide non-medical nursing items and services to patients who choose to rely solely upon a religious method of healing and for whom the acceptance of medical health services would be inconsistent with their religious beliefs.

Usage

When utilizing code 4 in the second digit of the Type of Bill (TOB), the biller is indicating that the facility is a Religious Non-Medical Health Care Institution (RNHCI). This code is primarily used for 'Hospital Boarding' services, which include non-medical nursing care and dietary services. It is critical to ensure that the patient has a valid 'Election for Care in a Religious Non-Medical Health Care Institution' on file with Medicare before submitting claims with this digit. Failure to correctly identify the facility type as an RNHCI can lead to immediate claim rejections, as these institutions are subject to specific reimbursement rules and benefit period calculations distinct from standard acute care hospitals.

Related Codes

While digit 4 identifies Religious Non-Medical Health Care Institutions, other codes exist in the parent field to identify different facility types, such as 1 for Hospital, 2 for Skilled Nursing, 3 for Home Health, and 8 for Specialty Facility. Each digit significantly alters the processing logic of the claim.