A provider is sending us Loop 2300 HI*BE:45:::06~. This segment is failing our validator because HI0105 is defined as Data Type R - Decimal, which cannot contain leading zeroes. Provider is saying that Medicare rejects their clams if they don't have the accident hour specified with the leading zero. Therefore they must insert the leading zero. Please advise as to the proper interpretation with respect to this usage of D.E. 782.
The submitter is correct that HI01-05 is a type R date element, and that type R's are required to suppress leading zeros unless they're necessary to make up a minimum length requirement. Section B.1.1.3.1.2 of the guide states in the third paragraph "Leading zeros must be suppressed unless necessary to satisfy a minimum length requirement."The minimum length for the element in question in the standard is 1, so a leading "0" is not necessary and must be suppressed. The ASC X12 Intellectual Property Rights statement about supplementary documents also states that a trading partner must not "Add, modify or delete any defining, explanatory, or clarifying content (Section 1), example (Sections 2 and 3) or Appendix (Section 4) information." (see http://store.x12.org/store/ip-use) Therefore, trading partners may not redefine this element to require a minimum length of 2 and/or require a leading zero, and be compliant with the guide.