N110 Remark Code: No Film Mammography Certification
N110 means the payer has no record that the facility was certified to perform film (analog) mammography on the date of service, so the film mammography line was denied. It points to the facility's certification status, not the patient's benefits.
Quick facts
- Code
- N110 (RARC N110)
- Status
- Active In use since February 28, 2002.
- Code set
- Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
- Group codes
-
- CO (Contractual Obligation): A facility-credential denial. The amount is normally written off by the provider unless the certification problem is corrected.
- Official description
This facility is not certified for film mammography.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026- Last verified
- against the official X12 list.
What N110 means
Payers pay for mammography only at facilities certified for it, and they track certification by modality. N110 is specific to film-screen (analog) equipment. The payer matched your claim to a facility, looked for a film mammography certification covering the date of service, and did not find one.
Because most sites have converted to digital equipment, N110 today often points to a coding or facility mismatch rather than an uncertified site.
Why it happens
- Wrong modality on the claim. A digital exam was reported in a way the payer interprets as film, for example through an outdated code or modifier combination.
- Wrong location. The claim named a different service location than the one where the exam was done, or used another site’s NPI.
- Stale certification data. The certificate on file with the payer expired, or a renewal was never sent.
- Mobile units. Studies from a mobile unit were billed under a fixed site whose certificate does not cover the unit.
Resolving the denial
- Identify the equipment actually used for the exam and whether the billed code matches it.
- Check the service facility name, address, and NPI on the claim (CMS-1500 box 32/32a) against the site that holds the certificate.
- If the code or facility was wrong, send a corrected claim with resubmission code 7 in box 22, referencing the original claim number.
- If everything on the claim was right, send the payer the certificate and request reprocessing or file an appeal.
Keeping it from recurring
Tie mammography codes to the equipment in your charge master so a digital room cannot drop a film code. Report new units, mobile sites, and certificate renewals to every payer that pays for mammography at those locations.
Codes that may appear with N110
- CO-B7 (This provider was not certified/eligible to be paid for this procedure/service on this date of service.): The provider was not certified or eligible for this service on this date; N110 identifies film mammography as the gap.
- CO-185 (The rendering provider is not eligible to perform the service billed.): The rendering provider is not eligible to perform the service billed.
Related and easily confused codes
- N92 (This facility is not certified for digital mammography.): The digital mammography counterpart, often the right code when a site has moved to digital units.
- N762 (This facility is not certified for Tomosynthesis (3-D) mammography.): Used for tomosynthesis (3-D) mammography certification.
- CO-170 (Payment is denied when performed/billed by this type of provider.): A broader provider-type denial that can appear on imaging claims.
N110 FAQ
We no longer use film. Why did the claim say film?
The claim may have reported the exam in a way the payer reads as film, such as an outdated code or modifier. If the exam was digital, correct the claim so the digital certification applies.
Is N110 appealable?
Yes, if the facility held a valid certificate that covered film mammography on the service date. Include a copy of the certificate with the appeal or reopening request.
Who fixes the payer's certification record?
The facility, usually through the payer's provider enrollment or credentialing contact, since payers rely on the certification data on file for that site.