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MA116 Remark Code: 'Homebound' Statement Missing for Lab

MA116 means the claim did not include the 'Homebound' statement the payer needs to determine whether laboratory services, such as specimen collection, were performed at the patient's home or in an institution.

Quick facts

Code
MA116 (RARC MA116)
Status
Active In use since January 1, 1997.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The lab-related charge was not paid because the required statement was missing. The provider corrects it; the patient is not billed.
Official description
Did not complete the statement 'Homebound' on the claim to validate whether laboratory services were performed at home or in an institution.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What MA116 means

Some laboratory-related payments, such as specimen collection fees and travel allowances, depend on where the patient was when the specimen was collected. Medicare pays these in certain situations for patients who are homebound or in an institution. MA116 says the claim lacked the ‘Homebound’ statement the payer uses to decide whether those rules apply.

It usually comes with CARC 16.

Common causes

  • A lab billed specimen collection or travel for a home draw without the statement.
  • The statement was in a different format than the contractor requires.
  • The electronic claim did not include the claim note.
  • The service was provided at a facility but the claim did not say so.

How to fix it

  1. Confirm the patient’s status at the time of collection, homebound or in an institution, from the order and collection records.
  2. Add the statement to item 19 or the claim note in the format your contractor requires.
  3. Check that collection and travel codes match the location and documentation.
  4. Resubmit the corrected claim.

How to prevent it

  • Capture homebound status on the requisition for home draws.
  • Build a rule to add the statement automatically when home collection or travel codes are billed.
  • Review lab claim edits for missing information; see CO-16 missing information denials.

Codes that may appear with MA116

  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): The claim is missing information needed for adjudication, here the homebound statement.
  • MA69 (Missing/incomplete/invalid remarks.): Missing or invalid claim remarks, the field where statements like this are entered.
  • MA114 (Missing/incomplete/invalid information on where the services were furnished.): Information on where services were furnished was missing.
  • MA120 (Missing/incomplete/invalid CLIA certification number.): A missing or invalid CLIA number on lab claims.

MA116 FAQ

Why does the homebound status matter for lab services?

Medicare pays specimen collection fees and travel allowances in certain situations, such as for patients who are homebound or in a facility. The statement tells the payer which situation applies.

Where do I enter the statement?

Medicare contractors typically direct it to CMS-1500 item 19 or the claim note on electronic claims. Follow your contractor's instructions for exact wording.

Does the patient need to be homebound?

The payer uses the statement to decide. If the patient was not homebound or in an institution, certain collection or travel payments may not apply.