MA43: Missing/incomplete/invalid patient status
The patient discharge status code on an institutional claim is missing or does not match a valid code, which affects how the claim is priced (for example, transfers versus discharges to home).
Corrective actions
- 1
Confirm the discharge disposition
Check the medical record for the actual discharge status (home, transfer, SNF, expired, etc.) and map it to the correct UB-04 patient status code.
- 2
Resubmit the corrected status code
Update the patient status field with the verified code, since an incorrect status can also trigger post-acute transfer payment adjustments.
Usually paired with
Retrieved 2026-07-18.
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DenialPath provides billing and administrative guidance based on published CMS and X12 sources. It is not medical advice, not a coverage determination, and not a guarantee of payment. NCCI and MUE edits are republished quarterly and payer policies vary by contract. Always confirm against the payer's own current policy before submitting or appealing.