What must be recorded on the CMS-1500 form if Medicare is the primary or secondary payer?

When Medicare is designated as the primary or secondary payer, it is crucial to record the patient's Medicare Health Insurance Claim Number on the CMS-1500 form. This number is a unique identifier assigned to a patient enrolled in Medicare and is essential for processing claims accurately.

Entering the Medicare Health Insurance Claim Number ensures that the insurance carrier can quickly retrieve the patient's information, verify their coverage, and adjudicate the claim correctly. This process helps in determining the amount of coverage available under the Medicare plan, whether it is the primary insurance or coordinating with additional coverage when Medicare acts as the secondary payer. Consequently, without this vital information, there may be delays or denials in processing claims related to medical services provided to the patient.

While the other options may be relevant in different contexts, they do not specifically pertain to the requirement of identifying patients under Medicare coverage on the CMS-1500 form.