What is one consequence of submitting a CMS-1500 with incorrect information?

Submitting a CMS-1500 form with incorrect information can lead to the claim being returned for corrections, which is a common consequence in medical billing processes. When a claim is not filled out correctly—whether due to incorrect patient information, billing codes, or provider details—the insurance company is likely to flag these errors during their processing.

As a result, the claim cannot be processed as intended, and the claim will be sent back to the healthcare provider or billing office for necessary corrections before it can be re-submitted for payment. This process causes delays in reimbursement and may lead to additional administrative work to rectify the mistakes. In the context of medical billing, accuracy is crucial, and returning the claim for corrections is a standard procedure to ensure that all information aligns with the requirements set by the insurance company.

The other options do not accurately reflect the outcome of submitting an incorrect CMS-1500 form; for instance, it is highly unlikely that the insurance company would pay a claim with inaccuracies, as doing so could lead to improper payments. Additionally, incorrect information certainly has effects on the claim process, and while patients may eventually be billed, this direct outcome is contingent on the resolution of the claim rather than being an automatic response to an incorrect submission.