When a patient passes away, you have another code to put on your claim. CMS has introduced occurrence code 55, which you must report along with a patient's date of death when the patient's discharge status is 20 (Expired), 40 (Expired at home), 41 (Expired in a medical facility), or 42 (Expired -- place unknown), according to
Effective Oct. 1, you must include code 55 with these discharge indicators, or you may face denials. To read more about this new date of death code, visit www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM7792.pdf.