How should the patient's name be formatted in Block 2 of the CMS-1500 claim?

In Block 2 of the CMS-1500 claim form, the patient's name should be structured to ensure clarity and conformity with standardized naming conventions. The correct formatting requires the first name followed by a comma, then the last name preceded by the first initial of the middle name followed by a period. This format helps in clearly distinguishing each part of the name and aligns with typical practices in medical billing to ensure that all relevant parties involved in the insurance claim processing can correctly identify the patient without confusion.

So, using "ANTHONY, SUSAN, B" indicates that "ANTHONY" is the first name, "SUSAN" is the last name, and "B" is the middle initial, presented in a way that is easily recognizable and searchable in databases. This precise formatting is important for administrative efficiency and accuracy in health care billing and documentation, reducing the potential for errors.

The other formats presented either lack the necessary clarity provided by commas or are arranged in a manner that is not typically used in formal documents. Such inconsistencies could lead to errors or delays in processing the claim.