Skip to main content

N142 Remark Code: Submit a New Claim, Not a Replacement

N142 means the original claim was denied, so the payer will not accept a replacement claim for it. Instead of a corrected or replacement claim (frequency code 7), submit a new original claim with the corrections.

Quick facts

Code
N142 (RARC N142)
Status
Active In use since October 31, 2002.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The replacement was rejected for format reasons. The balance is not the patient's; submit a new claim.
Official description
The original claim was denied. Resubmit a new claim, not a replacement claim.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N142 means

Claims carry a frequency code that tells the payer whether they are originals (1), replacements (7), or voids (8). Many payers accept replacements only when there is a processed, payable claim to replace. N142 tells you the claim you tried to replace had been denied outright, so the replacement had nothing to act on.

On a CMS-1500, the resubmission code goes in box 22. For N142, leave box 22 blank and send the corrected claim as a new original.

Common causes

  • Staff sent every correction as a replacement, regardless of how the original was processed.
  • The billing system defaults to frequency 7 when a claim is edited.
  • The original was rejected or denied at the claim level, but the team assumed it had paid in part.

How to fix it

  1. Confirm the original’s status on the remittance: fully denied at the claim level.
  2. Make the corrections that addressed the original denial reason.
  3. Submit a new claim with frequency code 1, no original claim reference, and the corrected data.
  4. Watch timely filing, and keep documentation of the first submission. See the timely filing guide.

How to prevent it

Train staff to check the original claim’s outcome before choosing new, replacement, or void. Payer rules differ, so keep a reference of each major payer’s resubmission policy. The claim rejection vs denial guide explains why the distinction matters for resubmission.

Codes that may appear with N142

  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): The claim has a submission or billing error; N142 explains that the claim frequency was wrong.
  • CO-129 (Prior processing information appears incorrect.): Prior processing information appears incorrect, such as a replacement referencing a denied claim.
  • CO-A1 (Claim/Service denied.): A general claim denial with N142 explaining the resubmission route.
  • N152 (Missing/incomplete/invalid replacement claim information.): Flags missing or invalid replacement claim information.
  • N517 (Resubmit a new claim with the requested information.): Asks you to resubmit a new claim with the requested information.
  • N798 (Submit a void request for the original claim and resubmit a new claim.): Asks you to void the original claim and resubmit a new one.

N142 FAQ

Why can't I replace a denied claim?

Some payers only allow replacements for claims that were paid or partly paid. A fully denied claim has nothing to replace, so they want a fresh submission.

Will a new claim be flagged as a duplicate?

It should not, because the original was denied. Make sure the corrections are in place so the new claim is not simply the same data again.

Does the new claim restart timely filing?

Timely filing is still measured from the date of service under most payer rules. Keep the original denial as proof of timely submission.