Form Locator 3a requires which data element?

Form Locator 3a requires which data element?

• A. Type of Bill
• B. Patient Control Number
• C. Medical Record Number
• D. Date of service

Answer: (B)

Form Locator 3a is dedicated to the Patient Control Number—the facility’s internal identifier assigned to the patient’s encounter for billing and record-keeping. This number stays with the patient’s chart and helps match the claim to the correct patient within the provider’s system, making reconciliation easier when processing or reviewing claims. It is separate from the Medical Record Number, which is the hospital’s primary patient file ID; the two can be the same or different depending on the facility, but they serve different purposes. Other data elements like the Date of Service or Type of Bill are located in different form locators on the UB-04.

Form Locator 3a is dedicated to the Patient Control Number—the facility’s internal identifier assigned to the patient’s encounter for billing and record-keeping. This number stays with the patient’s chart and helps match the claim to the correct patient within the provider’s system, making reconciliation easier when processing or reviewing claims. It is separate from the Medical Record Number, which is the hospital’s primary patient file ID; the two can be the same or different depending on the facility, but they serve different purposes. Other data elements like the Date of Service or Type of Bill are located in different form locators on the UB-04.