UB04 Revenue Code Code 0270: Medical/Surgical Supplies and Devices (General)

Overview

Revenue code 0270 is used on the UB-04 claim form to report Medical/Surgical Supplies and Devices (General). It falls under the 027X series, which covers a broad range of medical and surgical supply categories. According to the Noridian Medicare reference, the 027X series includes: 0270 General, 0271 Nonsterile, 0272 Sterile, 0273 Take-home supplies, 0274 Prosthetic/orthotic devices, 0275 Pacemaker, 0276 Intraocular lens, 0277 Take-home oxygen, 0278 Other implants, and 0279 Other supplies/devices ^[1]. Code 0270 is the catch-all for supplies and devices that do not have a more specific subcategory. This code is commonly used by hospitals, clinics, and other institutional providers when billing for general medical/surgical supplies that are not separately classified.

When to Use

Use revenue code 0270 when billing for medical or surgical supplies and devices that do not fit into one of the more specific subcategories within the 027X series. The Noridian list shows that subcategories exist for nonsterile (0271), sterile (0272), take-home supplies (0273), prosthetic/orthotic devices (0274), pacemakers (0275), intraocular lenses (0276), take-home oxygen (0277), other implants (0278), and other supplies/devices (0279) ^[1]. Therefore, 0270 should only be selected when none of those specific codes apply. For example, a general supply item like a disposable thermometer or a basic wound dressing kit that is not classified as sterile or nonsterile in the provider’s billing system might be reported under 0270. The MassHealth guide emphasizes that providers must complete a separate claim form for each member, and for outpatient claims, services must be bundled to avoid exceeding the 22-line limit ^[2]. Proper use of 0270 helps avoid claim rejections and ensures accurate reimbursement.

Step-by-Step Claim Example

Consider a hospital outpatient department that provides a patient with a general medical/surgical supply kit (e.g., a basic suture removal kit) that does not meet the criteria for sterile or nonsterile subcodes. The provider will complete a UB-04 claim form. According to the MassHealth guide, up to 22 revenue code lines can be entered ^[2]. In Form Locator 42 (Revenue Code), enter “0270”. In the corresponding charge field, enter the amount billed for the supply, e.g., $25.00. The date of service and other required fields (e.g., patient name, provider number) must be completed per standard UB-04 instructions. If the claim includes other services, such as a physician visit or lab test, those would be listed on separate lines with their own revenue codes (e.g., 0510 for clinic visit, 0300 for lab). The MassHealth guide notes that for outpatient claims, services should be bundled to fit on a single form ^[2]. Therefore, if the supply is part of a larger encounter, it should be included on the same claim as the primary service. After completing the form, submit it electronically (unless a paper waiver is approved) as MassHealth requires electronic submission for most claims ^[2]. The claim will be processed, and the revenue code 0270 will be recognized as general medical/surgical supplies.

Common Mistakes & Audit Red Flags

One frequent error is using revenue code 0270 when a more specific subcategory exists. The Noridian list clearly separates sterile (0272) and nonsterile (0271) from the general code ^[1]. Another mistake is failing to bundle outpatient services. The MassHealth guide states that for outpatient claims, providers must bundle services to submit the claim on a single form ^[2]. Additionally, using 0270 for items that are actually durable medical equipment (029X) or IV therapy supplies (026X) is a red flag. Payers may review claims with high volumes of 0270 charges to ensure they are not being used to bypass more restrictive codes. Providers should also ensure that the supply is medically necessary and documented in the patient’s record. Finally, remember that MassHealth requires electronic submission unless a waiver is granted; submitting paper claims without a waiver may result in rejection ^[2]. Proper training on revenue code definitions can prevent these common mistakes.

Related Codes/Fields

The table below lists the subcategories within the 027X series and adjacent revenue code ranges that are commonly used with 0270. All codes are from the Noridian reference ^[1]. The UB-04 field for revenue codes is Form Locator 42.

Revenue Code	Description	Notes
0270	Medical/Surgical Supplies and Devices (General)	Use when no specific subcode applies
0271	Nonsterile supplies	For nonsterile items only
0272	Sterile supplies	For sterile items only
0273	Take-home supplies	Supplies provided for home use
0274	Prosthetic/orthotic devices	Includes braces, artificial limbs
0275	Pacemaker	Cardiac pacemaker devices
0276	Intraocular lens	Lens implanted during cataract surgery
0277	Take-home oxygen	Oxygen equipment for home use
0278	Other implants	Implants not elsewhere classified
0279	Other supplies/devices	Catch-all for other items
026X	IV Therapy	Related supply category (e.g., 0264 Supplies)
028X	Oncology	Oncology-related supplies (0280 General)
029X	Durable Medical Equipment	DME rental/purchase (0290 General)

When billing 0270, ensure that the service is not better described by a code from 026X (IV Therapy) or 029X (Durable Medical Equipment). The MassHealth guide does not provide specific field instructions beyond the 22-line limit, but the revenue code is always entered in Form Locator 42 on the UB-04 ^[2].

---

References

[1] Noridian Revenue Codes — https://med.noridianmedicare.com/web/jea/topics/claim-submission/revenue-codes

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