Hospice Billing Codes Explained: A Complete Guide to CPT and Revenue Codes

Accurate billing forms the backbone of smooth financial operations for hospice care providers. Understanding hospice billing codes, including hospice CPT codes and revenue codes like revenue code 651, 0421 revenue code, and 0651 revenue code, is crucial for compliance, efficiency, and timely reimbursement. 

At AffinityCore, we understand how billing precision impacts financial stability. This complete guide simplifies the complexities of hospice in medical billing, helping you decode how each hospice procedure code supports accurate claims submission and audit-ready documentation. 

Understanding the Basics of Hospice Billing Codes 

In hospice billing, every service and procedure must be matched with a specific hospice CPT code or revenue code to ensure accurate reimbursement. These hospice billing codes represent the type of care provided, whether routine home care, continuous home care, inpatient respite, or general inpatient care. 

Using the correct hospice codes is essential not only for compliance but also for optimizing revenue performance and avoiding claim denials. A well-organized cheat sheet for hospice billing helps providers maintain consistency and meet payer-specific documentation standards. 

The Purpose of Hospice CPT Codes 

Hospice CPT codes (Current Procedural Terminology) describe clinical services provided to patients under hospice care. These standardized codes communicate with payers what specific services were performed, such as evaluations, procedures, or counseling sessions. 

Each hospice CPT code provides detailed insight into the nature of care, ensuring transparent billing and efficient claims management. The accurate use of these hospice billing codes also supports data-driven audits, compliance checks, and reimbursement tracking. 

For example: 

• CPT 99377: Hospice care supervision (15–29 minutes) 

• CPT 99378: Hospice care supervision (30+ minutes) 

When paired correctly with hospice procedure codes and relevant revenue codes, these CPT entries help define the level and duration of care. 

What Are Revenue Codes in Hospice Billing? 

Revenue codes represent where and how the hospice service was delivered. These codes are reported on claims alongside hospice CPT codes to provide context for billing. 

Here are some of the most common hospice billing codes used in revenue classification: 

• Revenue Code 651: Routine home care 

• Revenue Code 652: Continuous home care 

• Revenue Code 655: Inpatient respite care 

• Revenue Code 656: General inpatient care 

• 0421 Revenue Code: Physical therapy services related to hospice care 

• 0651 Revenue Code: Routine home care (used by some payers interchangeably with 651) 

A comprehensive cheat sheet for hospice billing helps teams correctly align hospice procedure codes with revenue classifications, ensuring every billed item is justified and trackable. 

CPT Codes vs. Revenue Codes: What’s the Difference? 

While hospice CPT codes identify the exact procedure or service, revenue codes classify the setting or department where care was delivered. Both are required for accurate claims submission and proper reimbursement. 

Feature	CPT Code	Revenue Code
Purpose	Describes a specific service or procedure	Classifies service location or cost center
Example	CPT 99378 – Hospice supervision	Revenue Code 651 – Routine home care
Used For	Identifying service type	Grouping services for billing
Importance	Ensures payer clarity	Links charges to the correct department

Combining both codes on the claim form ensures payers understand both what was done and where it was done, reducing claim rejections and compliance risks. 

The Four Levels of Hospice Care and Related Codes 

Every hospice organization delivers care across four key service levels. Each level uses specific hospice billing codes and revenue codes to define the service type and cost structure. 

1. Routine Home Care (Revenue Code 651 / 0651 Revenue Code) 

• Covers daily home-based hospice services for patients who don’t require continuous monitoring. 

• Common hospice CPT codes: 99377, 99378. 

2. Continuous Home Care (Revenue Code 652) 

• Applied when patients require 24-hour nursing care. 

• Hospice procedure codes align with time-based CPT entries to capture service duration. 

3. Inpatient Respite Care (Revenue Code 655) 

• Short-term inpatient stay for caregiver relief. 

• Associated hospice CPT codes cover physician oversight and coordination. 

4. General Inpatient Care (Revenue Code 656) 

• For patients needing advanced symptom management or acute care in a facility. 

• Proper pairing of hospice CPT codes and hospice billing codes ensures full reimbursement. 

A strong cheat sheet for hospice billing simplifies this mapping process, ensuring accuracy across care levels. 

Key Hospice Procedure Codes and Their Usage 

Hospice care involves multidisciplinary services, from nursing and social work to counseling and therapies. Each service requires its own hospice procedure codes to accurately reflect time, complexity, and provider type. 

Common hospice CPT codes include: 

• G9473: RN services, hospice per diem (routine home care) 

• G9474: LPN services, hospice per diem (routine home care) 

• G0155: Clinical social work services 

• G0156: Home health aide services 

A standardized cheat sheet for hospice billing ensures teams apply the correct hospice codes consistently, minimizing revenue leakage and reducing administrative burden. 

How to Create a Hospice Billing Cheat Sheet 

An efficient cheat sheet for hospice billing helps billing teams quickly reference accurate hospice CPT codes, revenue codes, and hospice procedure codes without searching through extensive manuals. 

When creating your own reference guide: 

• Group hospice billing codes by care level (routine, continuous, respite, inpatient). 

• Include revenue code 651, 0421 revenue code, and 0651 revenue code in the corresponding sections. 

• Add documentation requirements next to each entry. 

• Regularly update the sheet based on payer and CMS revisions. 

This structured approach not only saves time but also strengthens compliance with regulatory and audit requirements. 

Common Challenges in Hospice Billing 

Even experienced billing teams encounter complexities when managing hospice billing codes. 

Key challenges include: 

• Incorrect pairing of hospice CPT codes with revenue codes. 

• Missing documentation supporting hospice procedure codes. 

• Overlapping service periods leading to claim denials. 

• Delays in updating the cheat sheets for hospice billing after regulatory changes. 

Proactively addressing these issues ensures your billing cycle remains efficient, transparent, and compliant with payer expectations. 

Best Practices for Accurate Hospice Billing 

Precision and consistency define success in hospice medical billing. To improve billing accuracy: 

• Verify Codes Regularly: Keep your hospice CPT codes and hospice billing codes up to date with CMS updates. 

• Use Automation Tools: Integrate billing software that cross-verifies revenue code 651, 0421 revenue code, and related fields. 

• Audit Frequently: Perform internal audits using a structured cheat sheet for hospice billing. 

• Train Staff: Ensure your team understands how hospice codes and hospice procedure codes align with each care level. 

Why Accurate Hospice Billing Codes Matter 

Accurate coding directly affects your organization’s bottom line. Using the right hospice billing codes and revenue codes ensures: 

• Faster claim approvals 

• Fewer denials 

• Stronger compliance documentation 

• Improved revenue integrity 

By aligning hospice CPT codes with care levels and revenue codes, providers can improve both financial performance and reporting transparency. 

AffinityCore: Your Partner in Accurate Hospice Billing 

At AffinityCore, we specialize in simplifying hospice medical billing through intelligent automation and expert coding support. Our team builds tailored billing workflows that optimize hospice billing codes, streamline reimbursement, and ensure compliance across all payer types. 

Whether it’s mapping revenue code 651, integrating 0421 revenue code entries, or managing complex hospice CPT codes, AffinityCore ensures precision in every claim. 

With our data-driven approach, you can: 

• Reduce claim errors by 40% 

• Accelerate payment cycles

• Gain transparency into hospice procedure codes and reimbursement trends

Trust AffinityCore to bring clarity and control to your hospice billing process, from setup to submission. 

FAQs About Hospice Billing Codes 

Q. What are the hospice CPT codes? 

A. They are standardized codes used to document and bill hospice care services, such as CPT 99377 and 99378. 

Q. What is the difference between a CPT code and a revenue code? 

A. A CPT code describes the service performed, while a revenue code identifies where the service was provided. 

Q. What is the CPT code for billing? 

A. CPT codes like 99377 and 99378 are commonly used for hospice care supervision billing. 

Q. What are the four types of hospice care? 

A. Routine home care, continuous home care, inpatient respite, and general inpatient care. 

Q. What are five common CPT codes? 

A. 99377, 99378, G0155, G0156, and G9473 are commonly used hospice CPT codes. 

Q. What are the three types of CPT codes? 

A. Category I (standard services), Category II (performance measures), and Category III (emerging technology). 

Conclusion: Simplify Hospice Billing with AffinityCore 

Mastering hospice billing codes, from hospice CPT codes to revenue code 651, 0421 revenue code, and 0651 revenue code, ensures accuracy, compliance, and faster reimbursements. With AffinityCore’s advanced solutions and expertise in hospice and medical billing, you can eliminate errors, streamline workflows, and achieve consistent revenue performance. 

-Partner with AffinityCore to Streamline Hospice Billing Today. Simplify complex hospice billing codes, improve cash flow, and ensure compliance, all with AffinityCore’s trusted billing expertise. 

Contact us today to learn how we can optimize your hospice billing process for long-term success.