UB04 Field 50: Payer Identification (Name)

Overview

Field 50 (Payer Identification Name) on the UB-04 claim form captures the legal name of the primary payer—typically the health plan, insurance company, or government program responsible for payment. According to the Maryland Medicaid UB-04 Hospital Billing Instructions, this field is listed as “FL 50 Payer Name” and is part of the mandatory payer identification block that includes Fields 51 through 54. ^[1] The field is required for both inpatient and outpatient claims, as indicated in the article’s header. Accurate entry ensures that the claim routes to the correct payer for adjudication and prevents processing delays.

When to Use

Use this field to identify the primary payer responsible for the largest share of the claim. If multiple payers exist (e.g., primary and secondary), each separate claim form would include the respective payer name in Field 50. The payer name should be the full legal name or standard abbreviation recognized by the payer (e.g., “Medicare Part A,” “Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts”). Always verify that the payer name aligns with the health plan identification number in Field 51 to avoid rejection.

Step-by-Step Claim Example

1. Patient context: Jane Doe, admitted for a hip replacement. Primary insurance is Aetna PPO, policy number 123456789, group name JANEDOE GROUP.
2. Locate Field 50 on the UB-04 form: the field is the first box in the payer identification block, typically in the lower left section of the hard copy or electronic equivalent.
3. Enter the payer name: Type “Aetna PPO” (or the exact legal name as recognized by the health plan). Do not abbreviate unless the payer standardizes an abbreviation (e.g., “BCBS”).
4. Complete companion fields: Fill Field 51 (Health Plan ID), Field 52 (Release of Information), Field 53 (Assignment of Benefits), and Field 54 (Prior Payments). The Maryland Medicaid instructions confirm these are adjacent fields in the payer block. ^[1]
5. Final check: Ensure the payer name is spelled correctly and no extra spaces or punctuation exist. Submit the claim to the clearinghouse or directly to the payer. If the claim is for a secondary payer, repeat the process with a separate UB-04 showing “Cigna” or “Medicaid” in Field 50.

Common Mistakes & Audit Red Flags

• Blank Field 50: A missing payer name will cause the claim to be returned or rejected.
• Payer name mismatch: If Field 50 says “Blue Cross” but Field 51 contains a Medicare health plan ID, the claim will be denied. Always cross-check with the patient’s insurance card.
• Using unapproved abbreviations: “BCBS” may be accepted by some payers, but others require “Blue Cross Blue Shield.” Follow payer-specific billing guides.
• Incorrect payer order: When billing secondary claims, Field 50 must reflect the secondary payer’s name, not the primary. Auditors look for duplicate or reversed payer names.
• Data entry typos: “Aetna” vs. “Atnea” – even a single character error can route the claim to the wrong payer or cause a rejection.
• Failure to update when payer changes: If the patient’s insurance switches during the stay, the primary payer at discharge should be listed. Historical claims must reflect the payer active on the date of service.
• Mixing government and commercial payers: For Medicare crossover claims, Field 50 should show “Medicare” when billing the MAC, and a separate claim for the secondary payer (e.g., “Medicaid”) must use “Medicaid” in Field 50.

Related Codes/Fields

The table below lists fields commonly associated with Field 50 (Payer Name) as identified in the Maryland Medicaid UB-04 instructions. ^[1]

Field Number	Field Label	Description / Relationship to Field 50
51	Health Plan Identification Number	Unique ID of the payer plan; must correspond to the name in Field 50.
52	Release of Information Certification	Indicator that the patient has authorized release of info to the payer.
53	Assignment of Benefits Certification	Indicator that benefits are assigned to the provider.
54	Prior Payments – Payer	Amounts already paid by the payer named in Field 50; used to show balance due.
58	Insured’s Name	Name of the person covered by the plan listed in Field 50; used for eligibility verification.
59	Patient Relationship to Insured	Code showing how the patient is related to the insured (e.g., self, spouse).
60	Insured’s Unique ID	Policy or subscriber ID matching the payer in Field 50.
61	Insured’s Group Name	Employer or group name associated with the payer.

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References

[1] Maryland Medicaid — FL 50 — https://health.maryland.gov/mmcp/provider/Documents/ffs-billing/UB04-Hospital-Billing-Instructions%20%281%29.pdf