Which field records the total charges the provider expects to be paid?

Which field records the total charges the provider expects to be paid?

• A. Non-covered charges
• B. Prior payments
• C. Total charges
• D. Health Plan ID

Answer: (C)

In UB-04 billing, you record the amount billed for the entire encounter in the total charges field. This is the gross amount the provider expects to be paid, serving as the baseline before any adjustments, discounts, or payer-specific write-offs are applied. Insurance payers use this figure to determine how much they will allow and what portion may be the patient’s responsibility after benefits are applied. Non-covered charges refer to services not payable under the policy, and prior payments are amounts already paid toward the bill, while the Health Plan ID identifies the payer. None of these capture the initial billed amount as the total charges do.

In UB-04 billing, you record the amount billed for the entire encounter in the total charges field. This is the gross amount the provider expects to be paid, serving as the baseline before any adjustments, discounts, or payer-specific write-offs are applied. Insurance payers use this figure to determine how much they will allow and what portion may be the patient’s responsibility after benefits are applied.

Non-covered charges refer to services not payable under the policy, and prior payments are amounts already paid toward the bill, while the Health Plan ID identifies the payer. None of these capture the initial billed amount as the total charges do.