Final answer:
The CMS-1500 claim form must be printed in black ink or drop-out red OCR ink, which is a specific shade designed for scanner readability. Using other colors can result in claim rejection.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it comes to the CMS-1500 claim form, the acceptable color format is very specific. The form should be printed in either black ink or drop-out red OCR (Optical Character Recognition) ink. It is crucial that the form is easily readable by scanners and data capture technologies, so the red color used is a specific shade known as 'drop-out red' which is designed to be easily filtered by scanning devices to enhance the accuracy of the data extraction process. Using any other colors on the CMS-1500 form can lead to rejection of the claim because it cannot be processed properly by the automated systems. It is advisable to use pre-printed forms that are compliant to ensure all guidelines are followed.