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MA69 Remark Code: Claim Remarks Missing or Invalid

MA69 means the claim's remarks, the free-text narrative used to explain unusual circumstances or identify unlisted items, were missing, incomplete, or invalid. Add the required explanation and resubmit.

Quick facts

Code
MA69 (RARC MA69)
Status
Active In use since January 1, 1997; last modified February 28, 2003.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The line was not paid because required explanatory information was absent. The provider corrects it; the patient is not billed.
Official description
Missing/incomplete/invalid remarks.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What MA69 means

Some claims need a short narrative the payer can read before it can price or approve the line. MA69 tells you that narrative, the claim remarks, was not there or did not contain what the payer needed. It commonly accompanies CARC 16, meaning the claim was incomplete rather than denied on its merits.

Common causes

  • An unlisted or not-otherwise-classified code was billed without a description of the service or drug.
  • A payer rule requires a specific statement (for example a date or identifier) in item 19, and it was left out.
  • The narrative was cut off because it exceeded field length.
  • Your billing system did not transmit the note segment on the electronic claim.
  • The text was present but did not match the payer’s required format.

How to fix it

  1. Check the payer’s instructions for the service billed to see exactly what must appear in the remarks.
  2. Write a concise narrative with the required details: service description, drug name and dose, or other data the payer specifies.
  3. Place it correctly: CMS-1500 item 19, UB-04 form locator 80, or the claim note segment on an 837.
  4. Resubmit. If the original was rejected, send a new claim; if it was processed and you are replacing it, send a corrected claim with resubmission code 7 and the original claim number in item 22.
  5. Attach documentation if the narrative alone will not support the service.

How to prevent it

  • Build rules that require a remark whenever an unlisted or NOC code is on the claim.
  • Confirm your clearinghouse passes the note segment through.
  • A pre-submission check such as a Claims Validator can flag empty remarks before the claim leaves your office. More on this family of issues: CO-16 missing information denials.

Codes that may appear with MA69

  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): The claim lacks information needed for adjudication, and MA69 tells you the missing piece is the remarks narrative.
  • CO-252 (An attachment/other documentation is required to adjudicate this claim/service.): An attachment or other documentation is required; sometimes the remark field is where the payer expected it to be described.
  • N29Deactivated (Missing documentation/orders/notes/summary/report/chart.): Asks for missing documentation, orders, or notes rather than a claim narrative.
  • M51 (Missing/incomplete/invalid procedure code(s).): Points to missing or invalid procedure codes, which a narrative cannot replace.
  • N350 (Missing/incomplete/invalid description of service for a Not Otherwise Classified (NOC) code or for an Unlisted/By Report procedure.): Asks for a missing or invalid description of an item or service, common with unlisted codes.

MA69 FAQ

Where do remarks go on a claim?

On the CMS-1500 they go in item 19 (additional claim information). On the UB-04 they go in the remarks field, form locator 80. Electronically they are sent in the claim note segment.

What kind of information belongs in the remarks?

Payer-specific details such as a description of an unlisted service, drug name and dosage for not-otherwise-classified codes, or dates that do not fit elsewhere. Your payer's billing manual lists what it expects.

Is there a length limit?

Yes. Item 19 and the electronic note field have limited space, so keep the narrative short and put longer explanations in attachments if the payer allows.