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M98 Remark Code (Deactivated): Start Reporting the UPN

M98 was an advance warning: begin reporting the Universal Product Number on claims for this type of item, because the payer would soon deny such claims without the correct UPN. X12 deactivated it and suggested M99.

X12 deactivated RARCM98 on January 31, 2004. Payers should no longer use it on new remittances, but it can still appear on older ERAs, corrected claims, and appeals.

Code: M98 (RARC M98)
Status: Deactivated StoppedJanuary 31, 2004 (in use since January 1, 1997).
Code set: Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes: CO (Contractual Obligation): Usually attached to paid or adjusted lines under CO as a notice; later UPN denials also fell under CO.
Official description: Begin to report the Universal Product Number on claims for items of this type. We will soon begin to deny payment for items of this type if billed without the correct UPN.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified: September 24, 2026 against the official X12 list.

What M98 meant

Remark M98 was a warning, not a denial. It told suppliers that the payer expected them to start including the Universal Product Number on claims for a particular type of item, and that claims without it would be denied soon. The idea was to give providers time to update their billing before enforcement began.

What replaced it

X12’s note suggested M99. M99 is active and reports a missing, incomplete, or invalid Universal Product Number or serial number, usually paired with CARC CO-16. In other words, the warning gave way to a remark used when the number is actually missing.

If you still see M98

It exists only in old remittances. If a payer asks for product identifiers today, check its companion guide for where and how to report them, add them to your item master so they populate automatically, and resubmit any denied claims with the correct values.

M99 (Missing/incomplete/invalid Universal Product Number/Serial Number.): The suggested replacement: missing, incomplete, or invalid Universal Product Number or serial number.
CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): Claim lacks information, the adjustment typically used once UPNs became required.

M98 FAQ

What is a Universal Product Number?

A standardized product identifier, such as a barcode-based number, that identifies a specific manufactured item. Some payers sought it for supplies and devices.

Did M98 reduce payment?

No. It was a heads-up that future claims without the UPN would be denied. Payment on the current claim was governed by its adjustment codes.

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