What Is Bill Type 141 on a Hospital Bill?

Healthcare billing involves a complex system of codes and forms designed to standardize communication between healthcare providers and insurance companies. The Uniform Bill, or UB-04 form, is a crucial document hospitals use to submit claims for reimbursement. Within this framework, specific codes identify the bill type. This article clarifies Bill Type 141 to help individuals understand their healthcare statements.

Decoding Bill Type 141

Bill Type 141 is a three-digit code located on the UB-04 claim form, which is the standard billing document for institutional healthcare providers. This code provides specific information about the type of facility, the nature of the care, and the sequence of the bill within an episode of care. Understanding each digit helps clarify what a 141 bill represents for hospital services.

The first digit, ‘1’, indicates the facility type, specifically designating a hospital as the service provider. Hospitals offer a broad range of medical care, from emergency services and surgeries to diagnostic testing and inpatient stays, differentiating them from other healthcare settings like skilled nursing facilities or clinics.

The second digit, ‘4’, signifies an inpatient claim. This refers to services provided when a patient is formally admitted to the hospital for an expected stay of 24 hours or more, requiring an overnight stay for observation, treatment, or recovery. This distinguishes it from outpatient services, where a patient receives care without being admitted.

The third digit, ‘1’, represents the “Frequency of Bill,” indicating an initial claim. This means the UB-04 form with the 141 designation is the first bill submitted to the payer for a specific inpatient hospitalization. It is not a corrected bill, an interim bill, or a final bill in a series, but the original submission for reimbursement. Therefore, Bill Type 141 identifies an initial claim submitted by a hospital for an inpatient stay.

Information Included on a 141 Bill

A UB-04 form designated as Bill Type 141 contains details about an inpatient hospital stay, enabling payers to process claims. The form’s various fields provide the specific information necessary for billing and reimbursement. This content typically includes both patient-specific data and details about the services rendered.

Patient demographic information is prominently featured, including the patient’s full name, address, date of birth, and subscriber identification details. The bill also identifies the provider, listing the hospital’s name, address, and its National Provider Identifier (NPI), which is a unique identification number for healthcare providers. These elements ensure the correct patient and provider are associated with the services.

Admission and discharge dates define the duration of the hospital stay. The bill includes diagnosis codes, primarily from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), to describe the patient’s primary and secondary medical conditions. Procedure codes, such as Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes, detail the medical services, surgeries, and tests performed during the inpatient admission.

The bill itemizes all charges for services, supplies, medications, and room and board provided during the inpatient period. It also includes payer information, detailing the insurance company responsible for the claim. Patient status codes at discharge indicate where the patient went after leaving the hospital, such as home, another facility, or if the patient expired.

Typical Use Cases for Bill Type 141

Bill Type 141 is used for submitting the initial claim for an inpatient hospital stay, covering the entire period from admission to discharge. This distinct billing code is applied to a variety of situations where a patient requires formal admission and an overnight stay in a hospital setting. Its consistent use streamlines communication between hospitals and insurance providers.

One primary use case for Bill Type 141 is acute inpatient hospital stays. This includes instances of major surgeries, complex medical treatments for severe illnesses, or conditions requiring continuous monitoring and care over an extended period. For example, a patient admitted for cardiac surgery or treatment for a serious infection would typically result in an initial claim with Bill Type 141.

Maternity stays, particularly those involving childbirth and the immediate postpartum care, are also commonly billed using Bill Type 141. These admissions necessitate an overnight stay and medical services, making them fit the inpatient criteria. Similarly, inpatient psychiatric care, when provided in a hospital setting and requiring an overnight stay for mental health services, is another common scenario for this bill type.

Inpatient rehabilitation stays within a hospital unit designed for recovery from serious injuries or illnesses also generate Bill Type 141 claims. These stays often involve a structured program of therapy and medical oversight, necessitating formal admission. This bill type ensures that the initial financial request for these inpatient services is properly submitted and processed by insurance companies.