Segments

A segment is a logical grouping of data elements. In X12, the same segment can be used for different purposes. This means that a field’s meaning can change based on the segment. For example:

• The NM1 segment is for any name (patient, provider, organization, doctor)

• The DTP segment is for any date (date of birth, discharge date, coverage period)

For more information on the X12 enveloping segments, refer to Structure of X12 Envelopes.