RARC Codes Guide — Understanding Remittance Advice Remark Codes
RARC (Remittance Advice Remark Code) codes provide supplemental explanation beyond the CARC code — telling you exactly what's missing, what rule was violated, or what next step is needed. This guide covers all three RARC groups with examples.
Quick Answer
RARC (Remittance Advice Remark Code) codes provide supplemental detail alongside CARC codes. RARC codes are grouped into three types: M codes (Medicare-specific), N codes (general, used by all payers), and MA codes (Medicare alerts). Reading CARC and RARC together gives you the complete picture of why a claim was adjusted and what to do next.
Key Takeaways
M codes are Medicare-specific remark codes.
N codes are general remark codes used by all payers.
MA codes are Medicare alert codes (informational, not denial reasons).
Always read RARC codes alongside CARC codes for full context.
The most common RARC is N20 (missing referring provider information).
Step-by-Step
Identify the RARC type
M = Medicare-specific, N = general, MA = Medicare alert. This tells you if the code applies to Medicare only or all payers.
Read the RARC alongside the CARC
The CARC gives the category; the RARC gives the specifics. For example, CO-16 + M51 = missing procedure code.
Follow the recommended next steps
Each RARC has specific resolution steps. Correct the identified issue and resubmit.
Common Mistakes
Ignoring RARC codes and only reading the CARC.
Treating MA (alert) codes as denial reasons — they are informational.
Not cross-referencing CARC and RARC to understand the full picture.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
RARC Codes FAQ
What is a RARC code?
A RARC (Remittance Advice Remark Code) is a supplemental code that provides additional explanation beyond the CARC code on a remittance advice (ERA/EOB). While the CARC tells you what happened (e.g., CO-16 = claim lacks information), the RARC tells you specifically what's missing or what rule was violated (e.g., N56 = procedure code not correct for date of service). RARC codes are maintained by the Washington Publishing Company (WPC) and come in three groups: N (general), M (Medicare-specific), and MA (Medicare Advantage).
What is the difference between N, M, and MA RARC codes?
RARC codes are grouped into three categories: N codes are general remark codes used by all payers to provide supplemental explanation for CARC codes. M codes are Medicare-specific remark codes used by Medicare and some Medicare Advantage plans. MA codes are Medicare Advantage-specific remark codes used only by Medicare Advantage plans. The group prefix tells you which type of payer the remark applies to, which helps in understanding the context of the adjustment.
How do CARC and RARC codes work together?
A CARC (Claim Adjustment Reason Code) tells you what happened — the type of adjustment or denial (e.g., CO-16 = claim lacks information for adjudication). A RARC (Remittance Advice Remark Code) provides the supplemental detail — specifically what information is missing or what rule was violated (e.g., N56 = procedure code not correct for date of service). Most denials carry both a CARC and at least one RARC. Reading both together gives you the complete picture of why the claim was denied and exactly what needs to be corrected to resolve it.
What are the most common RARC codes?
Common RARC codes include: N130 (service date outside approved date range), N362 (total payment exceeds charges), N522 (duplicate of previously processed claim), M15 (patient not identified as member), M127 (missing patient medical record certification), MA01 (alert about appeal rights), and MA130 (claim contains incomplete or invalid information). MA130 is particularly common with authorization denials — it often appears alongside CO-197 to indicate that the claim is missing the authorization number.
How do I look up a RARC code?
RARC codes appear on the remittance advice (ERA/EOB) alongside CARC codes. In the 835 electronic file, RARC codes appear in the LQ segment, associated with the corresponding CARC in the CAS segment. On a paper EOB, RARC codes appear in the remark section. You can search our Denial Code Library at /denial-code-hub to look up any RARC code with its full description and resolution steps. The official source for all RARC codes is the Washington Publishing Company (WPC) website.