990 - the dreaded patient convenience

Universal Billing Revenue Code 990, i.e. “Patient Convince”

Avoid this type of charge at all costs if you possibly can since most insurances will not cover the services, and you will be charged. Most assume that claims that are billed with this type of charge are for things such as a Private Room Upgrade from a Semi-Private Room, and that is one use of this type of charge.

However, it does have other uses that you may not be aware of. One such use is for non-mileage ambulance services. This type of charge can be incurred, if, for instance, someone calls 911, an ambulance is sent, and then it is determined that the patient does not need to actually be transported to the hospital. The hospital could, in this situation, bill a 990 Revenue Code to indicate that ambulance services were requested but that the claim cannot be submitted as a typical ambulance claim since there is no mileage rates that are billable since the patient was never technically transported anywhere.

Typically, if someone calls 911, and an ambulance is sent, it is usually best to actually take the ambulance ride and get checked out in the ER. Yes, there may be an ER co-pay or something you will need to pay, but that fee is sometimes much less than it will cost for you to pay 100% of the charges billed for a 990 Revenue Code that your insurance will deny.

This type of 911 situation sometimes involves diabetic patients who are either in a state where their sugar levels are elevated or are going very low, and the patient adjusts the sugar level to an acceptable rate by the time the ambulance arrives. However, it can happen in many other types of situations too. Any time that a 911 call is made, it would probably be best for the patient to take the ambulance ride. However, if you are the patient, be aware that 990 Revenue Code type billing may be incurred, and it may be difficult, if not impossible, to get your insurance to cover the costs that the hospital may bill you for.

Howdy.

Welcome to my new blog, Hacking Healthcare. This blog will be a sort of tips and pointers blog full of information from folks (mainly me) in the Healthcare Industry... Most of the information here is simple, useful knowledge, primarily meant to help you, the average reader, to lower your healthcare costs, or at least get a better idea of how to read bills from your hospital, doctors office, and various related material from your insurance company. Happy reading.