How should dates of service be documented on the CMS-1500?

• A. Only the first date of service is required.
• B. Dates of service are not required.
• C. Dates of service must be listed on the claim as a single date.
• D. Each service line must include the date of service; if spanning multiple days, a From and To date may be used.

Answer: (D)

Dates of service must be documented for each service line on the CMS-1500. This means every line item shows the date the service was provided. If a service extends over more than one day, record a date range on that line using a From date and a To date. This approach clearly communicates the exact period of care to the payer, which is essential for proper adjudication and timing. Listing only a single date for multi-day services would fail to capture the full service period and can lead to processing errors. So, provide a date on every service line, and use a From/To range when the service spans multiple days.