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M108 Remark Code (Deactivated): Interpreting Provider ID

M108 meant the identifier for the provider who interpreted the diagnostic test was missing, incomplete, or invalid. X12 deactivated it without naming a replacement; current claims use NPIs, with role-specific remarks such as N290 for the rendering provider.

X12 deactivated RARCM108 on June 2, 2005. Payers should no longer use it on new remittances, but it can still appear on older ERAs, corrected claims, and appeals.

Code: M108 (RARC M108)
Status: Deactivated StoppedJune 2, 2005 (in use since January 1, 1997).
Code set: Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes: CO (Contractual Obligation): Accompanied CO missing-information denials; correcting the identifier was the provider's job.
Official description: Missing/incomplete/invalid provider identifier for the provider who interpreted the diagnostic test.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified: September 24, 2026 against the official X12 list.

What M108 meant

Diagnostic tests often involve two parts: performing the test and interpreting it. Remark M108 said the claim did not properly identify the provider who did the interpretation, so the payer could not verify who read the test.

What replaced it

X12 did not name a successor. Since NPIs became the standard identifier, payers flag identification problems by the role on the claim. The interpreting provider is commonly reported as the rendering provider for the professional component, so N290 is the most likely active remark. For purchased tests, M65 limits claims to one interpreting physician charge. The adjustment code is usually CO-16.

If you still see M108

It is limited to older files. For a current identifier issue on a diagnostic claim, check that the interpreting provider’s NPI is on the correct line and in the correct loop, and that the provider is enrolled with the payer, then resubmit.

N290 (Missing/incomplete/invalid rendering provider primary identifier.): Missing, incomplete, or invalid rendering provider primary identifier.
M65 (One interpreting physician charge can be submitted per claim when a purchased diagnostic test is indicated.): One interpreting physician charge per claim when a purchased diagnostic test is indicated.
CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): Claim lacks information or has billing errors.

M108 FAQ

Who is the interpreting provider?

The physician or practitioner who reads and reports on a diagnostic test, such as an imaging study or tracing. The interpretation is often billed separately from the technical component.

How is the interpreter identified today?

Usually as the rendering provider on the line for the professional component, using an NPI. Payer rules for purchased interpretations can differ.

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