What are the most common errors made when filling out a CMS 1500 claim form?

Asked by: Prof. Dayne Beatty  |  Last update: June 15, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (47 votes)

Misinterpreting or misusing CPT codes are some of the most frequent blunders made on these documents. Each code should accurately reflect the medical services provided, which requires diligent reading of long descriptions for new CPT codes.

What are the common errors and inaccuracies that occur when filling out CMS-1500 and UB 04 claim forms?

Common Mistakes Therapists Make on the CMS-1500
  • Service coding is inaccurate or not specific enough. ...
  • Codes were misused. ...
  • The claim wasn't filed on time. ...
  • Patient information isn't accurate or is missing. ...
  • The ICD-10 code is missing or inaccurate. ...
  • Service provider information missing.

What are the most common errors that occur when submitting claims?

Simple Errors
  • Incorrect patient information. Sex, name, DOB, insurance ID number, etc.
  • Incorrect provider information. Address, name, contact information, etc.
  • Incorrect Insurance provider information. ...
  • Incorrect codes. ...
  • Mismatched medical codes. ...
  • Leaving out codes altogether for procedures or diagnoses.
  • Duplicate Billing.

Which is a common error that delays the CMS-1500 claims process?

One common error that delays CMS-1500 claims processing is incomplete or inaccurate information, such as missing patient demographic data, incorrect insurance information, or incomplete diagnosis and procedure codes.

What are the three most common mistakes on a claim that will cause denials?

Here, we discuss the first five most common medical coding and billing mistakes that cause claim denials so you can avoid them in your business:
  • Claim is not specific enough. ...
  • Claim is missing information. ...
  • Claim not filed on time (aka: Timely Filing)

How to complete a CMS 1500 claim form in 5 minutes!

29 related questions found

Which of the following are common reasons claims can be denied?

Process Errors
  • The claim has missing or incorrect information. Whether by accident or intentionally, medical billing and coding errors are common reasons that claims are rejected or denied. ...
  • The claim was not filed in a timely manner. ...
  • Failure to respond to communication. ...
  • Policy cancelled for lack of premium payment.

What are the three most common types of negligence claims?

The four main types of negligence include:
  • Comparative Negligence. In many cases, both parties can be found partially at fault in an incident. ...
  • Contributory Negligence. ...
  • Gross Negligence: This is an egregious, reckless form of negligence that disregards the safety and well-being of others. ...
  • Vicarious Negligence.

Which is considered a final step in processing CMS 1500 claims?

After documenting the patient encounter in the electronic medical record, entering patient registration information in medical office software, and posting the patient's copayment to the office's revenue management software, the last crucial step is to submit the completed CMS-1500 claim to the payer or clearinghouse.

What block of CMS 1500 is for diagnosis codes?

Enter A – L which correlates to the diagnosis code entered in Block 21. The Diagnosis Pointer relates to the reason the service was performed.

How do I indicate corrected claim on CMS 1500?

For CMS-1500 Claim Form

- Stamp “Corrected Claim Billing” on the claim form - Use billing code “7” in box 22 (Resubmission Code field) - Payers original claim number should also be included in box 22 under the “Original Ref No.” field.

What is the most common rejection in medical billing?

Most common rejections

Duplicate claim. Eligibility. Payer ID missing or invalid. Billing provider NPI missing or invalid.

What are the three most common types of errors?

Types of Errors
  • Gross Errors.
  • Random Errors.
  • Systematic Errors.

Which of the following are among the most common errors on claims?

One of the most frequent causes of claim denials is inaccurate patient information. This includes errors in patient names, dates of birth, insurance policy numbers, and other personal details. Even minor discrepancies can result in the payer rejecting claims.

How do you complete a CMS 1500 form completely and correctly?

How to fill out a CMS-1500 form
  1. The type of insurance and the insured's ID number.
  2. The patient's full name.
  3. The patient's date of birth.
  4. The insured's full name, if applicable.
  5. The patient's address.
  6. The patient's relationship to the insured, if applicable.
  7. The insured's address, if applicable.
  8. Field reserved for NUCC use.

What are three consequences that can happen from inaccurate medical coding or billing?

In an industry where precision is paramount, such mistakes can result in denied claims, delayed reimbursements, or even audits and legal penalties. Beyond the financial impact, incorrect coding can compromise patient trust and disrupt continuity of care.

What is the difference between CMS 1500 and CMS 1450?

The UB-04 (CMS-1450) form is the claim form for institutional facilities such as hospitals or outpatient facilities. This would include things like surgery, radiology, laboratory, or other facility services. The HCFA-1500 form (CMS-1500) is used to submit charges covered under Medicare Part B.

Which is a common error that delays CMS 1500 claims processing?

Among these, the most common error that delays CMS 1500 claims processing is incomplete patient names. This is because the patient's name is a critical piece of information that is used to identify the patient and match the claim to the correct patient record.

What goes in box 21 on CMS 1500?

On the CMS claim form, diagnoses populate Box 21 A - J. The first diagnosis you listed in Healthie will always populate the 21A spot on the claim form.

Can I handwrite a CMS 1500 form?

Handwritten claims are difficult to read; therefore, they take longer to process. The OCR equipment may misread the information, resulting in the entry of invalid information for the claim. To ensure timely and accurate processing of claims, Noridian recommends claims be typed, not handwritten.

What is a dirty claim in medical billing?

Dirty Claim: The term dirty claim refers to the “claim submitted with errors or one that requires manual processing to resolve problems or is rejected for payment”.

How many modifiers are allowed on CMS 1500?

The CMS-1500 claim form has the capacity to capture up to four modifiers. Enter the specific procedure code without a narrative description.

What is 837 in medical billing?

An 837 file is an electronic file that contains patient claim information. This file is submitted to an insurance company or to a clearinghouse instead of printing and mailing a paper claim. • The data in an 837 file is called a Transaction Set. •

What is the ABC rule of negligence?

Summarize the ABC Rule. Anyone who causes damages to someone else, where the act or inaction would foreseeably cause damages and where the extent of the damages was also foreseeable, will be held liable, as long as the act or inaction was the direct or proximate cause of the loss.

What is the highest form of negligence?

Gross negligence is considered more harmful than ordinary negligence because it implies a thoughtless disregard of the consequences and the failure to use even slight care to avoid harming the life or property of another.

What is a risk assumption?

Risk assumption, risk retention, or risk acceptance—refers to accepting the risk, as it has a very low probability of occurring; the risk is extremely difficult to protect against; or the cost of changing the risk to the assets is so great or so low that any effort to change it would either be too expensive or the ...