What is the Attending Physician field used for on UB-04?

• A. Identifies the physician primarily responsible for the patient’s care during the stay.
• B. Identifies the nurse who provided care.
• C. Notes the patient’s primary language.
• D. Shows the room number.

Answer: (A)

The Attending Physician field identifies the physician who has overall responsibility for the patient’s care during the hospital stay. This is the physician who oversees the treatment plan, coordinates the medical team, and signs the discharge summary. The information is important for billing and accountability because professional charges are attributed to the attending physician, and it helps ensure continuity of care across the stay. It’s not used to identify a nurse, note the patient’s language, or show the room number, which are documented in other sections. So, this field serves to designate who is primarily responsible for the patient’s care during the admission.