Which field codes the source of referral for the encounter?

Which field codes the source of referral for the encounter?

• A. SRC
• B. DHR
• C. HR
• D. Admission

Answer: (A)

The field that identifies who referred the patient into care is labeled with the code SRC. This data element captures the source of referral for the encounter, telling payers and systems where the patient came from before receiving treatment—such as a referring physician, clinic, another facility, or the emergency department. Using SRC keeps this referral origin clearly documented on the UB-04 claim. The other terms aren’t standard codes used to denote the referral source, and they don’t serve this specific purpose on the form. For example, admission-related terms refer to different aspects of how the patient was admitted, not who referred them.

The field that identifies who referred the patient into care is labeled with the code SRC. This data element captures the source of referral for the encounter, telling payers and systems where the patient came from before receiving treatment—such as a referring physician, clinic, another facility, or the emergency department. Using SRC keeps this referral origin clearly documented on the UB-04 claim.

The other terms aren’t standard codes used to denote the referral source, and they don’t serve this specific purpose on the form. For example, admission-related terms refer to different aspects of how the patient was admitted, not who referred them.