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N200 Remark Code: Bill the Professional Component Alone

N200 means the payer requires the professional component of the service, the physician's interpretation and report, to be billed separately, usually on its own line with modifier 26, rather than as part of a global charge.

Quick facts

Code
N200 (RARC N200)
Status
Active In use since February 25, 2003.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The line was denied or adjusted because of billing format. The provider should correct it; the patient is not responsible.
  • OA (Other Adjustment): Sometimes reported as an other adjustment until the separated line is received.
Official description
The professional component must be billed separately.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N200 means

N200 is the professional-side counterpart of N195. The payer wants the interpretation billed as its own charge rather than folded into a global service. That usually means adding modifier 26 in box 24D on a separate line. It commonly explains CARC 4 or CARC 16, and sometimes CARC 5 if the place of service makes a global bill inappropriate.

In practice the original line will not pay as billed; a correctly split line has to be submitted.

Common causes

  • A radiologist or cardiologist billed a global code for a study done in a hospital, where the facility owns the technical part.
  • The place of service on the claim did not match where the test was performed.
  • Modifier 26 was omitted when interpretation-only services were entered.
  • The payer’s contract requires split billing even for office-based services.

How to fix it

  1. Confirm that your provider performed the interpretation and where the test was done.
  2. Rebuild the line with modifier 26. If your organisation also owns the equipment and the setting allows it, add a separate TC line; otherwise bill professional only.
  3. Check that box 24B reflects the actual place of service.
  4. Submit a corrected claim with resubmission code 7 in box 22 and the original claim number.

How to prevent it

Default interpretation-only services to modifier 26 whenever the place of service is a facility. Reading-physician groups that serve multiple hospitals benefit from location-driven rules that apply the modifier automatically. The Claims Validator can flag place of service and modifier conflicts before submission.

Codes that may appear with N200

  • CO-4 (The procedure code is inconsistent with the modifier used.): The modifier is inconsistent with the procedure, or modifier 26 is missing.
  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): A billing error prevents processing; N200 names the professional component as the issue.
  • CO-5 (The procedure code/type of bill is inconsistent with the place of service.): The procedure code is inconsistent with the place of service, such as a global bill in a facility setting.
  • N195 (The technical component must be billed separately.): The mirror remark requiring the technical component on its own.
  • N184 (Rebill technical and professional components separately.): Asks for both components to be rebilled separately.
  • N13 (Payment based on professional/technical component modifier(s).): Payment was based on professional or technical component modifiers.

N200 FAQ

What is the professional component?

It is the physician's work of interpreting a test and writing the report. The equipment and technician work is the technical component.

What if I billed modifier 26 already?

Check whether the modifier reached the payer. Clearinghouse edits or system mapping sometimes drop it. Also check whether the line was billed with a units or place of service error.

Does N200 affect the facility's claim?

Not directly. The facility bills the technical side separately. N200 concerns the professional claim.