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CARC and RARC codes list — plain-English summaries

These are short, plain-English summaries of commonly seen codes, written by Remitgrid to help you read remittances. They are not the official wording — X12 maintains the official CARC and RARC lists at x12.org/codes, and codes are added, changed and deactivated several times a year. Payers also apply them according to their own policies.

Group codes

CodeGroup
COContractual obligation (write off; don't bill the patient)
PRPatient responsibility (may bill the patient)
OAOther adjustment
PIPayer-initiated reduction
CRCorrection / reversal

Claim adjustment reason codes (CARC)

CodeCARC summary
1Deductible
2Coinsurance
3Copay
4Modifier missing or inconsistent with procedure
5Procedure / bill type inconsistent with place of service
6Procedure inconsistent with patient's age
7Procedure inconsistent with patient's sex
8Procedure inconsistent with provider type/specialty
9Diagnosis inconsistent with patient's age
11Diagnosis inconsistent with procedure
15Authorization number missing or invalid
16Missing information or billing error — see remark codes
18Duplicate claim or service
19Work-related — bill workers' comp
20Covered by liability carrier
22Another payer may be primary (coordination of benefits)
23Prior payer's adjudication applied
24Covered by capitation / managed care plan
26Service before coverage started
27Service after coverage ended
29Timely filing limit expired
31Patient not identified as our insured
32Dependent not eligible
33No dependent coverage
39Authorization denied
40Not emergency / urgent care criteria
45Charge exceeds fee schedule / contracted amount
49Routine or preventive service not covered
50Not medically necessary per payer
51Pre-existing condition
54Multiple physicians / assistant not covered
55Experimental or investigational
58Wrong place of service
59Multiple / concurrent procedure rules applied
89Professional fees removed (facility claim)
90Ingredient cost adjustment
94Processed in excess of charges
96Non-covered charge
97Bundled — paid in another service
100Payment made to patient
101Predetermination: anticipated payment
104Managed care withholding
107Related or qualifying service not paid
109Not covered by this payer — send to the correct payer
110Billing date before service date
119Benefit maximum reached
125Submission / billing error
128Newborn's services covered on mother's claim
129Prior processing information incorrect
130Claim submission fee
131Claim-specific negotiated discount
133Pended for review
136Prior payer's coverage rules not followed
140Patient / insured health ID mismatch
144Incentive adjustment
146Diagnosis invalid for date of service
150Level of service not supported
151Frequency / number of services not supported
167Diagnosis not covered
170Not paid when performed by this provider type
171Not paid when performed in this facility type
181Procedure code invalid on date of service
182Modifier invalid on date of service
183Referring provider not eligible
185Rendering provider not eligible
189Not otherwise classified code — use a specific code
190Included in SNF qualified-stay allowance
193Original payment decision maintained
197Precertification / authorization absent
198Precertification / authorization exceeded
199Revenue code and procedure code mismatch
204Not covered under patient's current benefit plan
206NPI missing or invalid
208NPI doesn't match
209Disallowed amount — may not bill the patient
226Requested information not provided or insufficient
227Information requested from patient not provided
234Procedure not paid separately
235Sales tax
236Procedure / modifier combination not allowed (NCCI)
242Out-of-network provider
243Services not authorized by network provider
252Additional documentation required
253Sequestration reduction
270Covered under medical plan, not dental
272Coverage / program guidelines not met
273Coverage / program guidelines exceeded
275Prior payer's patient responsibility not covered
288Referral absent
A1Claim / service denied
A6Prior hospitalization / 30-day transfer requirement not met
B1Non-covered visits
B4Late filing penalty
B7Provider not certified for this service on this date
B9Patient enrolled in hospice
B10Allowed amount reduced: component of basic procedure
B11Transferred to the proper payer
B12Services not documented in records
B13Previously paid
B15Requires a qualifying service that was not paid
B16New patient qualifications not met
B20Procedure / service partially or fully furnished by another provider
B22Payment adjusted based on diagnosis
P1State-mandated requirement for property & casualty
W1Workers' comp state fee schedule adjustment

Remittance advice remark codes (RARC)

CodeRARC summary
M15Separately billed services bundled
M51Missing / invalid procedure code(s)
M76Missing / invalid diagnosis
M77Missing / invalid place of service
MA01Appeal rights notice
MA07Claim forwarded to supplemental insurer
MA18Claim forwarded to supplemental insurer (crossover)
N4Missing / invalid prior insurance EOB
N20Not payable with another service on the same date
N95Provider type / specialty can't bill this service
N115Decision based on a local coverage determination
N130Consult plan benefit documents
N290Missing / invalid rendering provider ID
N362Days / units exceed the acceptable maximum
N386Decision based on a national coverage determination
N522Duplicate of a claim processed or in process

Provider-level adjustment (PLB) reasons

CodePLB summary
50Late charge
72Authorized return
90Early payment allowance
WOOverpayment recovery
FBForwarding balance
L6Interest owed
CSAdjustment
J1Nonreimbursable
APAcceleration of benefits
B2Rebate
B3Recovery allowance
BDBad debt adjustment
BNBonus
C5Temporary allowance
CTCapitation payment
CVCapital passthru
CWCRNA passthru
DMDirect medical education passthru
E3Withholding
FCFund allocation
GOGraduate medical education passthru
HMHemophilia clotting factor
IPIncentive premium payment
IRIRS withholding
ISInterim settlement
L3Penalty
LELevy
LSLump sum
OAOrgan acquisition passthru
OBOffset for affiliated providers
PIPeriodic interim payment
PLPayment final
RARetro-activity adjustment
REReturn on equity
SLStudent loan repayment
TLThird-party liability
WUUnspecified recovery
AHOrigination fee
AMApplied to borrower's account

To see which of these codes appear in your own remittances — and how many dollars each one cost — open the 835 in the denials view.

Last reviewed 2026-10-27. Code lists and payer policies change — confirm with X12 (x12.org/codes), the payer and your clearinghouse. Not billing, coding or legal advice.

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