The Plan Phase, that is, the Phase of Treatment, is a Medicare requirement, a legal requirement in some states, and is an insurance mandate in all others. Note that there are some states that dictate the specific names and verbiage of the Plan Phase. It is essential that each office verify the requirements for the state that the practice is located in. If the Plan Phase is not entered, a review of the SOAP notes by the insurance carrier could result in the rejection of all claims and demands by the insurance company for a refund of payments already made to the practice. The contents of this box can be edited in the Customization section, which allows the entry or removal of items, as well as rearranging the order of the list. Although it is not advised, there is also the option to leave the Plan Phase open (blank) by clicking on the blank space at the top of the drop down list.