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N117 Remark Code: Service Paid Once per Lifetime

N117 means the service is paid only once in a patient's lifetime, and the payer's records show it has already been paid for this patient. The repeat service was denied or adjusted on that basis.

Quick facts

Code
N117 (RARC N117)
Status
Active In use since July 30, 2002; last modified June 30, 2003.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The provider absorbs the amount unless the patient was notified beforehand and agreed to pay.
  • PR (Patient Responsibility): The patient may owe the charge if they signed a valid advance notice or, for commercial plans, the plan assigns non-covered amounts to the member.
Official description
This service is paid only once in a patient's lifetime.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N117 means

Some services are expected to happen only once, such as certain one-time screenings, preventive visits, or procedures that cannot logically be repeated. Payers enforce that expectation with a lifetime limit. N117 means the payer checked its history and found a prior paid claim for the same service and patient.

N117 usually explains a benefit-maximum reason code like CARC 149 or CARC 119.

Common causes

  • The patient received the service elsewhere and did not mention it.
  • A code intended for a one-time service was used for a follow-up that should be reported differently.
  • The earlier claim was for a different service but used the same code in error.
  • A repeat was clinically necessary, but the payer’s system does not recognize the exception.

How to fix it

  1. Ask the payer for the prior claim details (date and billing provider).
  2. Review your own coding. If the service was a follow-up or a different service, correct the code and send a corrected claim with resubmission code 7 in CMS-1500 box 22 and the original claim number.
  3. If the earlier claim was wrong, work with that provider or the payer to get it corrected.
  4. If the repeat was medically necessary and the payer allows exceptions, appeal with documentation.
  5. Otherwise, determine liability from the group code and any notice the patient signed.

How to prevent it

For services with lifetime limits, ask patients about prior history at scheduling and check the payer’s history tool where available. Obtaining advance notice when history is uncertain protects your ability to bill the patient. Frequency-limit denials are covered more broadly in the units of service guide.

Codes that may appear with N117

  • CO-149 (Lifetime benefit maximum has been reached for this service/benefit category.): The lifetime benefit maximum for this service or benefit category has been reached.
  • PR-119 (Benefit maximum for this time period or occurrence has been reached.): The benefit maximum for the time period or occurrence has been reached.
  • CO-151 (Payment adjusted because the payer deems the information submitted does not support this many/frequency of services.): The information does not support the frequency of this service.
  • N118 (This service is not paid if billed more than once every 28 days.): Limits a service to once every 28 days rather than once per lifetime.
  • N640 (Exceeds number/frequency approved/allowed within time period.): Exceeds the number or frequency allowed within a time period.
  • M89 (Not covered more than once under age 40.): Limits a service to once for patients under age 40.

N117 FAQ

How does the payer know the service was done before?

From its own claims history for the patient, which may include claims from other providers. Ask the payer for the date and provider of the earlier claim if you do not have it.

What if the earlier service was billed in error?

The earlier provider would need to correct or void its claim. Once that is processed, ask the payer to reprocess yours.

Does switching plans reset a lifetime limit?

Each payer tracks its own history, so a new plan may not know about a service paid by a previous insurer. Its own policy language controls.