Which statement best describes provider identifiers typically included on UB-04?

• A. Patient's name and date of birth
• B. Billing provider name, address, NPI, and tax ID/EIN; facility identifiers may also be included.
• C. Payer name and policy numbers
• D. Facility identifiers alone

Answer: (B)

Provider identifiers on the UB-04 are the pieces that uniquely identify who is billing and where the service was provided. The essential elements are the billing provider’s name and address, the National Provider Identifier (NPI), and the Tax ID or EIN. Facility identifiers may also appear to tie the claim to the specific hospital or location. This combination is used because the NPI uniquely identifies the provider across healthcare transactions, while the name, address, and Tax ID ensure the correct billing entity can be verified and paid. Options that reference the patient (name and birth date) or the payer (name and policy numbers) don’t identify the provider, and listing facility identifiers alone doesn’t convey the provider’s identity. So, listing the billing provider name, address, NPI, and tax ID/EIN, with possible facility identifiers, best describes the provider identifiers on UB-04.