004050X109, 274 transaction has DEG segment to provide provider degree information.
DEG01 element refers to external code set 161, Academic Degree Code, for the values. This list has such values as "2.1", "2.2", etc., i.e. with decimal point. And segment example is expressed like:
DEG✽3.1✽✽✽MD~
However, DEG element has data type ID and decimal point is not part of the allowed char set for this data type.
So, what is the proper way to send Academic Degree Code in element DEG01?
Academic Degree Code is needed to be sent for provider.
Code type ‘ID’ is defined as Identifier and works with a code list specified by the code source, in this data element it is code source 161: Academic Degree Code. In this code source the ‘.’ is part of the code, it is not representing a character in a number. Therefore, it is appropriate in this case to send the academic degree code, including the period.