Are leading zeros permitted when reporting ambulance mileage less than 1 mile in Loop 2300 or 2400 CR106?
We have providers indicating another payer requires a leading zero be used when reporting ambulance mileage <1 mile. For example, mileage is 7/10 of a mile (.7) – per the payer guidelines, mileage would be reported as 0.7 in the CR106 data element. Our understanding, based on the data element type 'R', it should be reported as .7 without a leading zero. Please validate which format is correct per the TR3.
Appendix B.1.1.3.1.2 in the 837P TR3 defines the usage for decimal data elements, “Leading zeros must be suppressed unless necessary to satisfy a minimum length requirement.” Data element CR106 has a minimum length is one, therefore, leading zeros should be suppressed.
Related RFIs: 2012, 1858