In Block 24 J, what type of identification is required?

In Block 24 J of the CMS-1500 form, the rendering provider's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is required. This identification number is crucial because it uniquely identifies healthcare providers in the United States, allowing for streamlined processing of claims by insurance payers.

The use of the NPI in this context ensures that the services billed on the claim are appropriately matched to the healthcare provider who rendered those services. This is essential for verifying provider information and facilitating efficient claim processing and payment. NPIs help in minimizing errors and fraud by ensuring that only legit services from licensed providers are billed and paid.

While other options may have their relevance in different contexts of the healthcare system, they do not specifically pertain to Block 24 J. For instance, the provider's credentialing number relates to the credentialing process rather than direct claim submission, the patient's health plan ID is part of other sections of the claim, and the service authorization code is typically used to indicate pre-authorization for services, which is not the focus of Block 24 J.