Information Bulletin, April 2004

Edit Modified for Type of Bill
Patient Disposition/Status Code Updat
Expanded Physician License Number Range
System Documentation Update
Emergency Department Data Collection
Automatic SPARCS Announcements and Bulletins
Additional Outpatient Edit Modifications as of 4/1/2004
SPARCS5 Version 5.13 (Release 4/21/04) Available for Download
Edit Modified for Type of Bill

The SPARCS edit program has been modified to accept Type of Bill 831, 837 and 838 for Emergency Department (ED) records. Previously "8" was not valid as the first digit for Type of Bill on ED records. For complete details on the definition, codes and values for Type of Bill, please visit the SPARCS Web site:   www.health.state.ny.us/statistics/sparcs/sysdoc/elements_837/type_of_bill.htm

Patient Disposition/Status Code Update

Effective for discharges on or after April 1, 2004, the National Uniform Billing Committee (NUBC) has approved the following Disposition/Patient Status code:

65 Discharged/transferred to a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric distinct part unit of a hospital. (Effective - 4/1/2004)

For complete details on the definition, codes and values for Patient Disposition/Status Code, please visit the SPARCS Web site: www.health.state.ny.us/statistics/sparcs/sysdoc/elements_837/patient_disposition.htm

Expanded Physician license Number Range

The following changes will be in effect for submissions received on or after April 1, 2004. The valid Physician license Number range has been expanded for:

Dentists
Podiatrists		 10008000 - 10060000
20000500 - 20006500

For a complete list of Physician license Number Ranges, please visit the SPARCS Web site:    www.health.state.ny.us/statistics/sparcs/sysdoc/appj.htm

System Documentation Update

The hardcopy version of the SPARCS System Documentation has been updated to include 2004 edit and operational updates as well as edits for Emergency Department Data. The documentation has been sent out for printing and will be available for distribution by the end of the month. The SPARCS System Documentation is also available for download on our website at:   www.health.state.ny.us/statistics/sparcs/download.htm

We are pleased to announce that there is an updated Web version of our System Documentation, as well. We have converted our on-line System Documentation from PDF to HTML. This will make our documentation easier to navigate and decrease computer resources necessary to access our documentation.

Emergency Department Data Collection

Although the reporting of Emergency Department (ED) data was legislatively mandated to begin September 4, 2003, the regulations for submitting ED data have not been finalized. Consequently, reporting of ED data is voluntary at this time. However, as of March, 2004, 94 facilities have begun to submit outpatient ED data on a regular basis. The audit report for 2003 outpatient data on the SPARCS public Web site, at www.health.state.ny.us/statistics/sparcs/audit.htm, shows a marked increase in the monthly discharges for the facilities that report ED data.

Automatic SPARCS Announcements and Bulletins

How can YOU get the latest SPARCS announcements and bulletins automatically? Subscribe to the UDS-L Listserv. For details, see www.health.state.ny.us/statistics/sparcs/operations/list.htm. UDS-L is a mailing list that has been set up on LISTSERV. Its purpose is to provide those interested in UDS issues with a quick and convenient way to receive updated information and to ask or respond to questions on UDS specifications or implementation. It also enables the Department to provide newsworthy information regarding payer, provider, and SPARCS issues relevant to UDS specifications. Announcements of operational and edit updates are immediately sent to subscribers of UDS-L and are subsequently put in an information bulletin.

Additional Outpatient Edit Modifications as of 4/1/2004

HCPCS modifier codes for ambulance origin and destination were added to the reference list of acceptable CPT/HCPCS modifiers.

Attending/Emergency Department Physician 1 license Number, although required for Emergency Department records, was not required by the outpatient edit program. The outpatient edit program has been updated and now requires Attending/Emergency Department Physician 1 license Number for Emergency Department records.

SPARCS5 Version 5.13 (Release 4/21/04) Available for Download

The SPARCS5 PC application has been updated to include the new Patient Disposition/Status Code 65 and the expanded Physician license range. SPARCS5 Version 5.13 (Release 4/21/04) is now available for download at:   http://www.health.state.ny.us/statistics/sparcs/download.htm