MA24 Remark Code: Sanitarium or SNF Bill in Same Period
MA24 means the payer found a Christian Science sanitarium or skilled nursing facility (SNF) bill in the same benefit period as this claim. The earlier stay affects how this one is covered, usually because benefit days in that period are shared or already used.
Quick facts
- Code
- MA24 (RARC MA24)
- Status
- Active In use since January 1, 1997; last modified June 30, 2003.
- Code set
- Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
- Group codes
-
- CO (Contractual Obligation): The facility is responsible for the adjusted amount because of the overlapping benefit period, absent proper patient notice.
- PR (Patient Responsibility): Days beyond the benefit available in the period may be the patient's responsibility, depending on notice and coverage rules.
- Official description
Christian Science Sanitarium/ Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) bill in the same benefit period.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026- Last verified
- against the official X12 list.
What MA24 means
MA24 appears on institutional claims, mainly under Medicare Part A. It tells you there is already a bill from a Christian Science sanitarium, now called a religious non-medical health care institution, or from a skilled nursing facility in the same benefit period. Because Part A coverage limits are tracked per benefit period, that earlier stay changes what the current claim can receive.
Read the paired reason code to see the practical effect, such as reached benefit limits or non-covered days.
Common causes
- The patient had a recent SNF or sanitarium stay that used part of the period’s covered days.
- Your admission did not start a new benefit period because not enough days had passed since the last stay.
- Another facility’s bill has incorrect dates that overlap with yours.
How to fix it
- Get the prior stay details. Ask the payer which bill and dates it matched in the benefit period.
- Verify your own dates. Confirm the admission and statement period dates on your claim.
- Correct your claim if dates or day counts were wrong, using the payer’s adjustment bill process.
- Coordinate with the other facility if its bill appears to contain wrong dates.
- Appeal if you have evidence a new benefit period had begun.
How to prevent it
Check the patient’s benefit period and remaining days through eligibility before admission, and ask about recent facility stays at intake. Coverage checks are covered in eligibility and COB denials.
Codes that may appear with MA24
Related and easily confused codes
- MA20 (Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) stay not covered when care is primarily related to the use of an urethral catheter for convenience or the control of…): An SNF stay not covered because care was mainly catheter-related.
- MA32 (Missing/incomplete/invalid number of covered days during the billing period.): The number of covered days in the billing period is missing or invalid.
- MA55 (Not covered as patient received medical health care services, automatically revoking his/her election to receive religious non-medical health care…): Religious non-medical care election revoked because the patient received medical care.
MA24 FAQ
What is a benefit period?
Under Medicare Part A, a benefit period generally begins with an inpatient admission and ends after the patient has gone a set number of days without inpatient hospital or SNF care. Coverage limits apply per period.
Why does a Christian Science sanitarium bill matter?
Medicare treats religious non-medical health care institution stays under Part A rules, so those days can count toward the same benefit period as an SNF stay.
Can the benefit period be wrong?
Yes. If the prior stay's dates were billed incorrectly, the benefit period calculation can be off. Ask the payer for the dates it used.