CMS Issues Date of Death Occurrence Code

Government benefits being paid to deceased beneficiaries is a growing problem in the U.S.

The National Uniform Billing Committee has created a new "occurrence" code to help capture deaths on the billing document.

Beginning October 1, 2012, occurrence code "55" must be included when patient discharge status code 20 (expired), 40 (expired at home), 41 (expired in a medical facility), or 42 (expired – place unknown) is present on the claim form.  Failure to include the code will result in a rejection of the claim.