How should discharge status be reported on UB-04?

• A. The discharge status indicates the patient’s disposition at discharge (e.g., home, skilled nursing facility, another hospital).
• B. It indicates the patient's social security number.
• C. It records the admission date.
• D. It lists the primary diagnosis code.

Answer: (A)

Discharge status is the patient’s disposition at the time of discharge. It records where the patient is going after leaving the hospital—such as home, a skilled nursing facility, another hospital, hospice, or, in rare cases, deceased. This field helps payers understand the post-discharge plan and supports accurate billing and care coordination. It isn’t about the patient’s Social Security number, nor does it record the admission date or the primary diagnosis code, which are captured in different parts of the form.