Complete Medicare Denial Codes List – Updated

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Complete Medicare Denial Codes List - Updated

 

Medicare denial codes provide or describe the standard information to a patient or provider by an insurances about why a claim was denied. This is the standard format followed by all insurance companies for relieving the burden on the medical providers. MACs (Medicare Administrative Contractors) use appropriate group, claim adjustment reason, or remittance advice remark codes to communicate that why a claim or charges are not covered by Medicare and who is financially responsible for the charges.

A group code is a code identifying the general category of payment adjustment. Valid group codes for use on Medicare remittance advice are:

CO – Contractual Obligations: This group code is used when a contractual agreement between the payer and payee, or a regulatory requirement, resulted in an adjustment. These adjustments are considered a write off for the provider and are not billed to the patient in most of the cases.
OA – Other Adjustments: This group code is used when no other group code applies to the adjustment.
PR – Patient Responsibility: This group code is used when the adjustment represents an amount that may be billed to the patient or insured. This group would typically be used for deductible and co-pay adjustments.

 

Medicare Denial Codes List

 

Code Number

Remark Code

Reason for Denial
1 Deductible amount.
2 Coinsurance amount.
3 Co-payment amount.
4 The procedure code is inconsistent with the modifier used, or a required modifier is missing.
4 M114 N565 HCPCS code is inconsistent with modifier used or a required modifier is missing
Item billed was processed under DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program and requires an appropriate competitive bid modifier
4 N519 HCPCS code is inconsistent with modifier used or required modifier is missing
5 The procedure code/bill type is inconsistent with the place of service.
6 The procedure/revenue code is inconsistent with the patient’s age.
7 The procedure/revenue code is inconsistent with the patient’s gender.
8 The procedure code is inconsistent with the provider type/specialty (taxonomy).
9 The diagnosis is inconsistent with the patient’s age.
10 The diagnosis is inconsistent with the patient’s gender.
11 The diagnosis is inconsistent with the procedure.
12 The diagnosis is inconsistent with the provider type.
13 The date of death precedes the date of service.
14 The date of birth follows the date of service.
15 Payment adjusted because the submitted authorization number is missing, invalid, or does not apply to the billed services or provider.
16 Claim/service lacks information which is needed for adjudication. Additional information is supplied using remittance advice remarks codes whenever appropriate
16 M124 Item billed does not have base equipment on file. Main equipment is missing therefore Medicare will not pay for supplies
16 MA13 N264 N575 Item(s) billed did not have a valid ordering physician name
16 MA13 N265 N276 Item(s) billed did not have a valid ordering physician National Provider Identifier (NPI) registered in Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS)
16 MA27 N382 Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s)
Missing/incomplete/invalid Information
16 MA83 Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).
Did not indicate whether we are the primary or secondary payer.
17 Payment adjusted because requested information was not provided or was insufficient/incomplete. Additional information is supplied using remittance advice remarks codes whenever appropriate.
18 Duplicate claim/service.
19 Claim denied because this is a work-related injury/illness and thus the liability of the Worker’s Compensation Carrier.
20 Claim denied because this injury/illness is covered by the liability carrier.
21 Claim denied because this injury/illness is the liability of the no-fault carrier.
22 Payment adjusted because this care may be covered by another payer per coordination of benefits.
23 Payment adjusted because charges have been paid by another payer.
24 Payment for charges adjusted. Charges are covered under a capitation agreement/managed care plan.
25 Payment denied. Your stop loss deductible has not been met.
26 Expenses incurred prior to coverage.
27 Expenses incurred after coverage terminated.
28 Coverage not in effect at the time the service was provided.
29 N211 The time limit for filing has expired.
You may not appeal this decision.
30 Payment adjusted because the patient has not met the required eligibility, spend down, waiting, or residency requirements.
31 Claim denied as patient cannot be identified as our insured.
32 Our records indicate that this dependent is not an eligible dependent as defined.
33 Claim denied. Insured has no dependent coverage.
34 Claim denied. Insured has no coverage for newborns.
35 Benefit maximum has been reached.
36 Balance does not exceed co-payment amount.
37 Balance does not exceed deductible.
38 Services not provided or authorized by designated (network) providers.
39 Services denied at the time authorization/pre-certification was requested.
40 Charges do not meet qualifications for emergent/urgent care.
41 Discount agreed to in Preferred Provider contract.
42 Charges exceed our fee schedule or maximum allowable amount.
43 Gramm-Rudman reduction.
44 Prompt-pay discount.
45 Charges exceed your contracted/legislated fee arrangement.
46 This (these) service(s) is (are) not covered.
47 This (these) diagnosis(es) is (are) not covered, missing, or are invalid.
48 This (these) procedure(s) is (are) not covered.
49 These are non-covered services because this is a routine exam or screening procedure done in conjunction with a routine exam.
50 These are non-covered services because this is not deemed a “medical necessity” by the payer.
50 M127 Documentation requested was not received or was not received timely
50 N115 Item billed may require a specific diagnosis or modifier code based on related Local Coverage Determination (LCD)
Development letter requesting additional documentation to support service billed was not received within provided timeline
Item being billed does not meet medical necessity
50 N130 Non covered services
50 N180 These are non-covered services because this is not deemed a ‘medical necessity’ by the payer.
This item or service does not meet the criteria for the category under which it was billed.
51 These are non-covered services because this is a pre-existing condition.
Item being billed does not meet medical necessity
52 The referring/prescribing provider is not eligible to refer/prescribe/order/perform the service billed.
53 Services by an immediate relative or a member of the same household are not covered.
54 Multiple physicians/assistants are not covered in this case.
55 Claim/service denied because procedure/ treatment is deemed experimental/ investigational by the payer.
56 Claim/service denied because procedure/ treatment has been deemed “proven to be effective” by the payer.
57 Payment denied/reduced because the payer deems the information submitted does not support this level of service, this many services, this length of service, this dosage, or this day’s supply.
58 Payment adjusted because treatment was deemed by the payer to have been rendered in an inappropriate or invalid place of service.
59 Charges are reduced based on multiple surgery rules or concurrent anesthesia rules.
60 Charges for outpatient services with this proximity to inpatient services are not covered.
61 Charges adjusted as penalty for failure to obtain second surgical opinion.
62 Payment denied/reduced for absence of, or exceeded, precertification/ authorization.
63 Correction to a prior claim.
64 Denial reversed per Medical Review.
65 Procedure code was incorrect. This payment reflects the correct code.
66 Blood deductible.
67 Lifetime reserve days.
68 DRG weight.
69 Day outlier amount.
70 Cost outlier. Adjustment to compensate for additional costs.
71 Primary payer amount.
72 Coinsurance day.
73 Administrative days.
74 Indirect Medical Education Adjustment.
75 Direct Medical Education Adjustment.
76 Disproportionate Share Adjustment.
77 Covered days.
78 Non-covered days/Room charge adjustment.
79 Cost report days.
80 Outlier days.
81 Discharges.
82 PIP days.
83 Total visits.
84 Capital Adjustment.
85 Interest amount.
86 Statutory Adjustment.
87 Transfer amount.
88 Adjustment amount represents collection against receivable created in prior overpayment.
89 Professional fees removed from charges.
90 Ingredient cost adjustment.
91 Dispensing fee adjustment.
92 Claim paid in full.
93 No claim level adjustments.
94 Processed in excess of charges.
95 Benefits adjusted. Plan procedures not followed.
96 Non-covered charges.
97 Payment is included in the allowance for another service/procedure.
97 M2 Beneficiary was inpatient on date of service billed
97 N390 HCPCS code billed is included in the payment/allowance for another service/procedure that has already been adjudicated
98 The hospital must file the Medicare claim for this inpatient non-physician service.
99 Medicare Secondary Payer Adjustment amount.
100 Payment made to patient/insured/responsible party.
101 Predetermination. Anticipated payment upon completion of services or claim adjudication.
102 Major Medical Adjustment.
103 Provider promotional discount (e.g., Senior citizen discount).
104 Managed care withholding.
105 Tax withholding.
106 Patient payment option/election not in effect.
107 Claim/service denied because the related or qualifying claim/service was not paid or identified on the claim.
108 Payment adjusted because rent/purchase guidelines were not met.
108 N130 Rent/purchase guidelines were not met.
Consult plan benefit documents/guidelines for information about restrictions for this service.
109 Claim not covered by this payer/contractor. You must send the claim to the correct payer/contractor.
109 N104 Claim was submitted to incorrect Jurisdiction
109 N130 Claim was submitted to incorrect contractor
109 N418 Claim was billed to the incorrect contractor
Beneficiary was enrolled in a Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) for date of service submitted
110 Billing date predates service date.
111 Not covered unless the provider accepts assignment.
112 Payment adjusted as not furnished directly to the patient and/or not documented.
113 Payment denied because service/procedure was provided outside the United States or as a result of war.
114 Procedure/product not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
115 Payment adjusted as procedure postponed or cancelled.
116 Payment denied. The advance indemnification notice signed by the patient did not comply with requirements.
117 Payment adjusted because transportation is only covered to the closest facility that can provide the necessary care.
118 Charges reduced for ESRD network support.
119 Benefit maximum for this time period has been reached.
120 Patient is covered by a managed care plan.
121 Indemnification adjustment.
122 Psychiatric reduction.
123 Payer refund due to overpayment.
124 Payer refund amount – not our patient.
125 Payment adjusted due to a submission/billing error(s). Additional information is supplied using the remittance advice remarks codes whenever appropriate.
126 Deductible – Major Medical.
127 Coinsurance – Major Medical.
128 Newborn’s services are covered in the mother’s allowance.
129 Payment denied. Prior processing information appears incorrect.
130 Claim submission fee.
131 Claim specific negotiated discount.
132 Prearranged demonstration project adjustment.
133 The disposition of this claim/service is pending further review.
134 Technical fees removed from charges.
135 Claim denied. Interim bills cannot be processed.
136 Claim adjusted. Plan procedures of a prior payer were not followed.
137 Payment/Reduction for Regulatory Surcharges, Assessments, Allowances or Health Related Taxes.
138 Claim/Service denied. Appeal procedures not followed or time limits not met.
139 Contracted funding agreement. Subscriber is employed by the provider of the services.
140 Patient/Insured health identification number and name do not match.
141 Claim adjustment because the claim spans eligible and ineligible periods of coverage.
142 Claim adjusted by the monthly Medicaid patient liability amount.
143 Portion of payment deferred.
144 Incentive adjustment, e.g., preferred product/service.
145 Premium payment withholding.
146 Payment denied because the diagnosis was invalid for the date(s) of service reported.
147 Provider contracted/negotiated rate expired or not on file.
148 Claim/service rejected at this time because information from another provider was not provided or was insufficient/incomplete.
A0 Patient refund amount.
A1 Claim denied charges.
A1 N370 Oxygen equipment has exceeded the number of approved paid rentals
A2 Contractual adjustment.
A3 Medicare Secondary Payer liability met.
A4 Medicare Claim PPS Capital Day Outlier Amount.
A5 Medicare Claim PPS Capital Cost Outlier Amount.
A6 Prior hospitalization or 30 day transfer requirement not met.
A7 Presumptive Payment Adjustment.
A8 Claim denied; ungroupable DRG.
B1 Non-covered visits.
B2 Covered visits.
B3 Covered charges.
B4 Late filing penalty.
B5 Payment adjusted because coverage/program guidelines were not met or were exceeded.
B6 This payment is adjusted when performed/billed by this type of provider, by this type of provider in this type of facility, or by a provider of this specialty.
B7 This provider was not certified/eligible to be paid for this procedure/service on this date of service.
B7 N570 This provider was not certified/eligible to be paid for this procedure/service on this date of service.
Missing/incomplete/invalid credentialing data.
B8 Claim/service not covered/reduced because alternative services were available, and should not have been utilized.
B9 Services not covered because the patient is enrolled in a Hospice.
B10 Allowed amount has been reduced because a component of the basic procedure/test was paid. The beneficiary is not liable for more than the charge limit for the basic procedure/test.
B11 The claim/service has been transferred to the proper payer/processor for processing. Claim/service not covered by this payer/processor.
B12 Services not documented in patient’s medical records.
B13 Previously paid. Payment for this claim/service may have been provided in a previous payment.
B14 Payment denied because only one visit or consultation per physician per day is covered.
B15 Payment adjusted because this service/procedure is not paid separately.
B16 Payment adjusted because “new patient” qualifications were not met.
B17 Payment adjusted because this service was not prescribed by a physician, not prescribed prior to delivery, the prescription is incomplete, or the prescription is not current.
B18 Payment denied because this procedure code/modifier was invalid on the date of service or claim submission.
B18 N522 Duplicate claim has already been submitted and processed
B19 Claim/service adjusted because of the finding of a Review Organization.
B20 Payment adjusted because procedure/service was partially or fully furnished by another provider.
B20 M115 N211 Procedure/service was partially or fully furnished by another provider.
This item is denied when provided to this patient by a non-contract or non-demonstration supplier.
B21 The charges were reduced because the service/care was partially furnished by another physician.
B22 This payment is adjusted based on the diagnosis.
B23 Payment denied because this provider has failed an aspect of a proficiency testing program.
D1 Claim/service denied. Level of subluxation is missing or inadequate.
D2 Claim lacks the name, strength, or dosage of the drug furnished.
D3 Claim/service denied because information to indicate if the patient owns the equipment that requires the part or supply was missing.
D4 Claim/service does not indicate the period of time for which this will be needed.
D5 Claim/service denied. Claim lacks individual lab codes included in the test.
D6 Claim/service denied. Claim did not include patient’s medical record for the service.
D7 Claim/service denied. Claim lacks date of patient’s most recent physician visit.
D8 Claim/service denied. Claim lacks indicator that “x-ray is available for review”.
D9 Claim/service denied. Claim lacks invoice or statement certifying the actual cost of the lens, less discounts or the type of intraocular lens used.
D10 Claim/service denied. Completed physician financial relationship form not on file.
D11 Claim lacks completed pacemaker registration form.
D12 Claim/service denied. Claim does not identify who performed the purchased diagnostic test or the amount you were charged for the test.
D13 Claim/service denied. Performed by a facility/supplier in which the ordering/referring physician has a financial interest.
D14 Claim lacks indication that plan of treatment is on file.
D15 Claim lacks indication that service was supervised or evaluated by a physician.
W1 Workers Compensation State Fee Schedule Adjustment.

 

Download the complete Medicare denial codes list below.

 

 

Complete Medicare Denial Codes .pdf

Researching and resubmitting denied claims can lead to long, frustrating hours trying to figure out why the claim was denied in the first place. The good news is that on average, 60% of denied claims are recoverable and around 95% are preventable.

 

 

Learn More

Updated List of CPT and HCPCS Modifiers 2021 & 2022

Complete List of Place Of Service Codes (POS) for Professional Claims

CPT Category Codes by Specialty 2021

 

 

We can assist you in addressing these denials and recover the insurance reimbursement.

We provide Personalized Medical Billing Consultation and project management services to…..

For more information, feel free to write to us at rcmexpertz@gmail.com

 

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