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MA03 Remark Code (Deactivated): Old Hearing Appeal Notice

MA03 was a Medicare appeal notice. It said that if you disagreed with the approved amounts and the amount in dispute met the stated threshold, you could ask for a hearing within the stated time, combining claims if needed. X12 deactivated it and suggested MA02.

X12 deactivated RARCMA03 on October 1, 2006. Payers should no longer use it on new remittances, but it can still appear on older ERAs, corrected claims, and appeals.

Code: MA03 (RARC MA03)
Status: Deactivated StoppedOctober 1, 2006 (in use since January 1, 1997).
Code set: Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes: CO (Contractual Obligation): Appeared alongside CO adjustments as an appeal-rights notice rather than a reason for the adjustment.
PR (Patient Responsibility): Could also accompany PR lines, since appeal rights applied regardless of who owed the balance.
Official description: If you do not agree with the approved amounts and $100 or more is in dispute (less deductible and coinsurance), you may ask for a hearing within six months of the date of this notice. To meet the $100, you may combine amounts on other claims that have been denied, including reopened appeals if you received a revised decision. You must appeal each claim on time.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified: September 24, 2026 against the official X12 list.

What MA03 meant

Remark MA03 carried appeal instructions on Medicare remittances. It described a hearing option for providers who disagreed with approved amounts, including a minimum amount in dispute after deductible and coinsurance, a filing deadline, and permission to combine several denied claims to reach the threshold. Each claim still had to be appealed on time.

What replaced it

X12’s note suggested MA02. MA02 is an active alert that tells the provider it has the right to appeal and must file a written request within the stated time. Medicare also uses MA01, and other payers often use the general N210 alert.

If you still see MA03

It only exists in older Medicare remittances, and its thresholds and timelines are out of date. For any claim you want to dispute today, read the appeal alert on the current remittance, identify the correct appeal level, and file within the deadline it states. Do not rely on MA03’s wording when planning an appeal.

MA02 (Alert: If you do not agree with this determination, you have the right to appeal.): The suggested replacement: alert describing the right to appeal and the time limit for a written request.
MA01 (Alert: If you do not agree with what we approved for these services, you may appeal our decision.): Medicare alert explaining how to appeal what was approved.
N210 (Alert: You may appeal this decision.): A general alert that you may appeal this decision.

MA03 FAQ

Do the thresholds in MA03 still apply?

No. MA03 described an older hearing step with its own dollar threshold and deadline. Medicare's appeal levels, thresholds, and time limits have since changed, so use the notice on your current remittance and Medicare's current guidance.

Did MA03 mean the claim was denied?

Not necessarily. It was a notice of appeal rights. The adjustment codes on the claim showed what was actually reduced or denied.

Important: read before using this information

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