Revenue code 0681
Trauma activation fee (revenue codes 0681 to 0689)
The revenue code family for a trauma team activation. 0681 is a level I activation, 0682 level II, 0683 level III, 0684 level IV, and 0689 is used for other trauma response charges. It is the hospital-bill form of the same charge that appears as HCPCS G0390 on a Medicare claim.
Where this line goes wrong
Same conditions as G0390
Medicare permits the 68x code only with prehospital notification and critical care. If either is missing from your record, the line is questionable. Most commercial insurers publish a similar policy.
The tier should match what happened
A level I activation means the full trauma team, including a surgeon, was called in. If the bill says 0681 and you were seen by the ER doctor only, ask who was activated and when.
Want to know if this line is right on your own bill? Upload it to a free mediloop account. An automatic first look reads the charges and shows what looks worth questioning, usually in about a minute.
Check my bill for freeCheck it, then ask
- 1
Ask in writing which activation tier was billed, who called it, and whether the hospital had prehospital notification.
- 2
Ask which critical care line (99291) on the bill supports the activation.
- 3
If insured, ask your plan to review the charge against its trauma activation policy.
The full walkthrough for this kind of bill: You got an ER bill.
Upload the bill to a free mediloop account. An automatic first look reads the charges and shows what looks worth questioning, usually in about a minute. If you want a specialist to dispute it for you, it is a flat $129, refunded in full if the bill isn't lowered by at least $129.
Check my bill for freeNot sure the bill is worth fighting? Run the free savings calculator first
People also ask
What is the difference between 0681 and G0390?
They describe the same charge on different parts of the claim. The revenue code is the hospital department line; G0390 is the HCPCS code Medicare and many insurers require alongside it.
Do all hospitals charge trauma activation?
Only designated trauma centers maintain a trauma team, and only they bill activation. If the hospital is not a trauma center, ask what the charge represents.
Sources
- CMS, OPPS questions and answers on emergency department and trauma billing
- Trauma System News, How to charge for trauma activation without prehospital notification (2023)
- CMS, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, chapter 25 (UB-04 form locators and revenue codes)
This page explains a billing code in general terms. It is not a coding, legal or medical opinion about your bill, and the code descriptions are mediloop's own plain-English summaries, not the official CPT descriptors, which are owned by the American Medical Association. Whether a charge was correct depends on the record of your visit and your payer's rules.