What type of insurance must be indicated in the first block of the CMS-1500 form?

The first block of the CMS-1500 form is designated for identifying the type of insurance coverage that applies to the patient being billed. It is crucial to indicate the correct insurer as this information is necessary for the claims process to ensure proper billing and reimbursement. Medicare is often prioritized in this block because it has well-defined coverage policies that govern how claims are submitted and processed.

Medicare specifically has designated fields within the form coding that helps streamline the processing of claims for those insured under this program. Each of the other types of insurance—Medicaid, private insurance, and uninsured—will have their own distinct claims processing requirements and documentation. However, in the context of the CMS-1500 form, Medicare is generally the first type of insurance that the form is designed to address, especially in relation to the majority of healthcare providers who frequently bill Medicare for services rendered to eligible patients. This configuration helps ensure that all requisite details for processing Medicare claims are appropriately captured from the outset.