Field 14

Field 14, the date of onset, is very important. If this field is not completed, the claim will deny.

Enter the initial treatment date in this field for the current episode of care, re-injury, or exacerbation.

This is the date of onset for the current visit, NOT the patient's first visit to your office. After you have completed a treatment plan and the patient returns for either a new injury or new episode of symptoms for a chronic condition, the initial date of treatment changes.

For example, you first saw a patient on January 15, 2004 for a complaint. For that first episode of treatment, you would enter January 15, 2004 in Field 14 for each claim filed to treat that complaint. After you complete the treatment plan for that episode of care, the next time the patient presents with a new injury or a new episode of symptoms initiating a new episode of care, you would report the new initial treatment date.