N838Remark Code (RARC)ActiveInformational Alert
N838 Remark Code - Service Postponed Alert
The N838 remark code indicates that a service or procedure was postponed due to a federal, state, or local mandate or disaster declaration. This alert informs the biller that any amounts that would typically be applied to deductible or member liability will instead be allocated to the prior plan year due to the cancellation of the procedure.
What This Alert Tells You
As an informational alert, N838 is not tied to specific adjustments or reason codes. It serves to notify billers about the implications of service postponements related to mandates or disaster declarations, rather than indicating a denial or adjustment that needs addressing.
Common Scenarios
1A patient had a surgery scheduled that was postponed due to a state emergency declaration. The bill reflects the originally planned service.
→ The N838 alert indicates that the cancellation was due to a mandate, and any financial impact on the patient’s deductible or member liability will be reflected in the previous plan year.
2A provider submitted a claim for a preventive service that was canceled because of a local health mandate. The claim returned with the N838 alert.
→ Here, the N838 remark is informing the provider that the cancellation was mandated, affecting how deductibles are applied for the service that was not performed.
3A scheduled therapy session was canceled due to a government disaster declaration, and the claim for that session received the N838 alert.
→ The N838 remark signifies that the cancellation was due to an official declaration, and the financial responsibility will shift to the prior plan year.
What to Do
- Do not resubmit the claim; this is an informational alert.
- Record the postponement and its implications for patient billing.
What to Check
- Review the claim submission date and the service that was postponed.
- Check the patient’s deductible status and prior plan year records for any applicable adjustments.
- Verify the federal, state, or local mandate or disaster declaration that caused the postponement.