Alert: The law permits exceptions to the refund requirement in two cases: - If you did not know, and could not have reasonably been expected to know, that we would not pay for this service; or - If you notified the patient in writing before providing the service that you believed that we were likely to deny the service, and the patient signed a statement agreeing to pay for the service. If you come within either exception, or if you believe the carrier was wrong in its determination that we do not pay for this service, you should request appeal of this determination within 30 days of the date of this notice. Your request for review should include any additional information necessary to support your position. If you request an appeal within 30 days of receiving this notice, you may delay refunding the amount to the patient until you receive the results of the review. If the review decision is favorable to you, you do not need to make any refund. If, however, the review is unfavorable, the law specifies that you must make the refund within 15 days of receiving the unfavorable review decision. The law also permits you to request an appeal at any time within 120 days of the date you receive this notice. However, an appeal request that is received more than 30 days after the date of this notice, does not permit you to delay making the refund. Regardless of when a review is requested, the patient will be notified that you have requested one, and will receive a copy of the determination. The patient has received a separate notice of this denial decision. The notice advises that he/she may be entitled to a refund of any amounts paid, if you should have known that we would not pay and did not tell him/her. It also instructs the patient to contact our office if he/she does not hear anything about a refund within 30 days
Current X12 Remittance Advice Remark Code. Read this remark with the accompanying CARC, group code, line detail, payer portal, and prior claim history before choosing an action.
Back to HubCurrent X12 Remittance Advice Remark Code. Read this remark with the accompanying CARC, group code, line detail, payer portal, and prior claim history before choosing an action.
Same standard code · different claim context
How N355 can be investigated across specialties
CARCs and RARCs are not separate code sets for radiology, gastro, hospital, or professional billing. The code meaning stays standardized; the claim fields, documentation, payer rules, and next checks change by setting.
Professional / Office
Check CMS-1500/837P fields, rendering/billing NPI, diagnosis, modifier, place of service, authorization, and payer policy.
Hospital / Facility
Check UB-04/837I bill type, revenue code, status, inpatient/outpatient rules, authorization, and line-level ERA detail.
Radiology
Check 26/TC component billing, imaging authorization, medical necessity, site of service, same-day edits, and referring provider data.
Gastroenterology
Check procedure relationships, screening vs diagnostic context, modifiers, pathology/anesthesia relationships, authorization, and payer edits.
Behavioral Health
Check provider credential, behavioral-health carve-out, authorization, units/time, telehealth, place of service, and plan-specific rules.
Therapy / Rehab
Check therapy modifiers, timed units, benefit limits, authorization, plan of care/documentation, and NCCI/payer edits.
DME / Supplies
Check HCPCS, modifiers, same/similar equipment, medical necessity, proof of delivery, authorization, and supplier enrollment.
Lab / Pathology
Check CLIA, ordering/referring data, diagnosis support, frequency, panel bundling, specimen/documentation, and payer medical policy.
Status
Informational OnlyRecommended Action
Should This Go to Coding?
Do not send every denial to Coding. Coding is appropriate only when the resolution requires coding judgment rather than an administrative or payer follow-up action.
Send to Coding When
Do Not Send to Coding When
Simple rule: If you would have to choose, change, or defend a CPT/HCPCS, ICD-10, modifier, code pair, NCCI edit, or documentation-to-code decision, Coding should review it.
Corrected Claim, Reconsideration, Appeal, or Something Else?
Use the ERA/EOB, RARC, payer portal, policy, claim history, and internal workflow to decide between corrected claim, reconsideration, appeal, coding review, payer follow-up, patient responsibility, or adjustment.
Should I Adjust This Balance?
This code is informational. Look for the accompanying CARC/denial reason before taking financial action.
Collections rule: A denial code by itself does not automatically mean write-off. Work the claim for payment first when a valid recovery path exists.
What Should My Account Note Say?
4-Part Note Formula
WHAT HAPPENED + WHAT YOU REVIEWED/DID + WHY THAT ACTION WAS CORRECT + WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
General Denial Note
REVIEWED ERA/EOB FOR N355. PAYER PROCESSED/DENIED $[AMOUNT] DUE TO [DENIAL REASON + CARC/RARC]. VERIFIED [PORTAL/ELIGIBILITY/CLAIM HISTORY/POLICY/CODING/AUTHORIZATION]. [ACTION TAKEN] BECAUSE [WHY THIS ACTION IS SUPPORTED]. REMAINING BALANCE $[BALANCE]. WILL FOLLOW UP IN [TIMEFRAME] OR NO FURTHER PAYER ACTION REQUIRED.
Adjustment Note
REVIEWED ERA/EOB FOR N355. PAYER APPLIED $[AMOUNT] AS [CONTRACTUAL/NONPAYABLE REASON]. VERIFIED FINAL ADJUDICATION, [CONTRACT/POLICY/CODING REVIEW], AND NO ADDITIONAL RECOVERY PATH. ADJUSTED/REQUESTED ADJUSTMENT OF $[AMOUNT] PER ORGANIZATIONAL WORKFLOW. REMAINING BALANCE $[BALANCE]. [FOLLOW-UP OR RESOLVED].
Current decision: NO ADJUSTMENT FROM THIS CODE ALONE. Do not document an action you did not actually perform. Do not say a payment was posted unless you personally posted it.