What information should be listed in Block 17b on the CMS-1500 claim form?

Block 17b on the CMS-1500 claim form is specifically designated for the referring physician's national provider identifier (NPI) number. Including the NPI in this block is crucial for identifying the healthcare provider who referred the patient for treatment. This is important for coordination of care and helps ensure that the claim is processed accurately by insurance providers.

In medical billing, each healthcare provider has a unique NPI that acts as a form of identification. This ensures that the information is linked properly to the referring physician, facilitating communication and payment processing between providers and insurers.

While the other options contain relevant medical information, they do not belong in Block 17b. The patient's diagnosis code is often included in other parts of the claim form, while the date of service usually appears in Block 14. Additionally, treatment plan codes, when applicable, are typically documented elsewhere.