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M62 Remark Code: Authorization Number Missing or Invalid

M62 means the claim did not carry a valid treatment authorization code. The payer could not match the service to an approved authorization, so it was not paid as billed.

Quick facts

Code
M62 (RARC M62)
Status
Active In use since January 1, 1997; last modified February 28, 2003.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The line is the provider's responsibility until a valid authorization is reported. In-network patients are generally not billed.
Official description
Missing/incomplete/invalid treatment authorization code.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What M62 means

When a payer requires prior authorization, it issues a reference number. The claim must carry that number so the payer can link the service to the approval. M62 says the number was missing, truncated, formatted wrongly, or did not match an authorization on file.

It commonly appears with CARC 197 or CARC 16. The difference matters: if an authorization exists, fixing the number usually resolves it; if none was obtained, the problem is bigger.

Common causes

  • Box 23 was left blank even though authorization was obtained.
  • A referral number was entered instead of the authorization number, or the reverse.
  • The authorization was issued to a different provider or location than the one billing.
  • The number was for a different service or date range.
  • Extra characters or dashes were added that the payer’s system does not accept.

How to fix it

  1. Look up the authorization in the payer portal and compare provider, service, units, and dates.
  2. Correct box 23 (or form locator 63) with the exact number.
  3. If the authorization covers a different provider or service, contact the payer to amend it before resubmitting.
  4. Resubmit with resubmission code 7, or appeal if the payer’s records are wrong.

How to prevent it

Store authorization numbers in the patient’s scheduling record and pull them onto claims automatically. Verify that authorizations match the rendering provider and service before the appointment. See authorization and referral denials.

Codes that may appear with M62

  • CO-197 (Precertification/authorization/notification/pre-treatment absent.): Precertification or authorization is absent.
  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): The authorization field is missing or contains invalid data.
  • CO-198 (Precertification/notification/authorization/pre-treatment exceeded.): The authorization was exceeded, for example more units or visits than approved.
  • N54 (Claim information is inconsistent with pre-certified/authorized services.): The claim does not match the services that were authorized.
  • N351 (Service date outside of the approved treatment plan service dates.): The service date is outside the approved treatment plan dates.
  • CO-197 (Precertification/authorization/notification/pre-treatment absent.): The reason code for a missing authorization overall.

M62 FAQ

Where does the authorization number go on the CMS-1500?

In box 23, 'Prior Authorization Number'. On the UB-04 it goes in form locator 63, 'Treatment Authorization Codes'.

What if we had an authorization but forgot to report it?

Submit a corrected claim with the number in the right field and resubmission code 7.

What if the authorization was never obtained?

Some payers accept retroactive authorization requests in limited situations. Otherwise, the denial usually stands and the patient cannot be billed under most network contracts.