CMS-1500
The standard claim format for professional (physician and outpatient) services.
Get a Free Billing AuditDefinition
The CMS-1500 is the standard claim form used to bill professional services — the work of physicians, non-physician practitioners, and many outpatient providers. Its electronic equivalent is the 837P transaction.
It carries the patient and insurance information, the rendering and billing provider identifiers, and the coded services with diagnoses. Most claims today are submitted electronically, but the CMS-1500 layout is still the reference for professional billing.
Why it matters for billing
Knowing which form applies — CMS-1500 for professional services versus UB-04 for facility services — keeps claims on the right rails. Complete, accurate fields on the professional claim are the foundation of a clean first-pass submission.
Related terms
Terms that come up alongside CMS-1500 in the revenue cycle.
Billing that gets CMS-1500 right
EnVisionMD RCM handles eligibility, coding, documentation, denials and follow-up end to end — so the details behind terms like this one are managed for you, not left to chance.
Request a free billing reviewCMS-1500 — frequently asked questions
It is the standard format for professional (physician and outpatient practitioner) claims; its electronic version is the 837P.
The CMS-1500 is for professional services, while the UB-04 is used by facilities such as hospitals; each captures different information.