How is Date of Service used on a CMS-1500 claim?

• A. It indicates when the service was performed and should match the service date(s) on the patient’s chart.
• B. It indicates the patient's birth date
• C. It indicates the next appointment date
• D. It indicates the date of insurance enrollment

Answer: (A)

Date of Service on a CMS-1500 claim is the actual day the service or procedure was performed. This date ties the billed item to what was documented in the patient’s chart, ensuring the service being billed happened on that specific day. When multiple services are billed, each line item has its own Date of Service that should correspond to the corresponding charted date for that service. This helps the payer verify timing, apply correct rules, and determine timely filing. The other dates—birth date, next appointment date, and insurance enrollment date—are unrelated to when a procedure occurred, so they are not used as the Date of Service on the claim.