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MA09 Remark Code: Unassigned Claim Processed as Assigned

MA09 is an informational alert. You submitted the claim as unassigned, but the payer processed it as assigned under your current assignment or participation agreement. Payment goes to you, and the allowed amount limits what you can collect.

Quick facts

Code
MA09 (RARC MA09)
Status
Active In use since January 1, 1997; last modified November 1, 2015.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The difference between your charge and the allowed amount is a contractual adjustment under assignment and cannot be billed to the patient.
  • PR (Patient Responsibility): Deductible and coinsurance based on the allowed amount remain the patient's responsibility.
Official description
Alert: Claim submitted as unassigned but processed as assigned in accordance with our current assignment/participation agreement.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What MA09 means

On a claim, the assignment indicator (box 27 on the CMS-1500) says whether the provider accepts the payer’s allowed amount and wants payment sent directly. MA09 tells you that you marked the claim as unassigned, but the payer processed it as assigned because your participation agreement requires it. Under Medicare, participating providers accept assignment on all covered services.

The practical effects: the payment comes to you rather than the patient, and you can only collect deductible and coinsurance, not your full charge.

What to do

  1. Adjust off the difference between your charge and the allowed amount as a contractual adjustment.
  2. Bill the patient only for PR amounts shown on the remittance.
  3. Refund any excess if you already collected more than the patient’s share at the time of service.
  4. Fix your claim setup. Check your practice management settings so claims go out with the assignment indicator that matches your participation status.

See how contractual adjustments differ from denials in CARC and RARC denial analysis.

Codes that may appear with MA09

  • CO-45 (Charge exceeds fee schedule/maximum allowable or contracted/legislated fee arrangement.): Charges above the allowed amount are written off because the claim was treated as assigned.
  • PR-2 (Coinsurance Amount): Coinsurance calculated on the allowed amount, which the patient still owes.
  • CO-111 (Not covered unless the provider accepts assignment.): A service that is not covered unless the provider accepts assignment.
  • MA28 (Alert: Receipt of this notice by a physician or supplier who did not accept assignment is for information only and does not make the physician or…): Explains that a non-assigned provider receiving the notice is not a party to the determination.
  • CO-100 (Payment made to patient/insured/responsible party.): Payment was made to the patient, which happens on unassigned claims.

MA09 FAQ

Why did the payer override my assignment choice?

Participating Medicare providers agree to accept assignment on all covered claims. If your agreement requires assignment, the payer processes the claim that way regardless of the indicator on the claim.

Can I collect my full charge from the patient?

No. Under assignment, you accept the allowed amount as payment in full and may collect only the patient's deductible and coinsurance.

Does MA09 affect who receives the check?

Yes. Because the claim was processed as assigned, payment is issued to you rather than to the patient.