Which UB-04 field identifies the physician who performed the principal operation or procedure?

• A. Attending Physician field
• B. Other Provider fields
• C. Operating Physician field
• D. Payer Information field

Answer: (C)

The field for identifying the physician who performed the principal operation or procedure is the Operating Physician field. This field is specifically reserved to record the surgeon or clinician who actually carried out the principal operation, which is essential for accurately attributing the professional services and charges on the UB-04 claim. The attending physician field is for the physician responsible for the patient’s overall care during the hospitalization, who may be the same person as the operating surgeon or not. Other Provider fields capture additional physicians who contributed to care (like consultants), not the primary operator. The Payer Information field deals with insurance details and not the performing physician.