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N206 Remark Code: Documentation Doesn't Match Claim

N206 means the supporting documentation you sent does not match the information on the claim, for example different dates of service, procedures, provider, or patient details. The payer cannot use documentation that conflicts with what was billed.

Quick facts

Code
N206 (RARC N206)
Status
Active In use since June 30, 2003; last modified March 6, 2012.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The service was denied because the documentation and claim conflict. The provider needs to reconcile them; the patient is not responsible.
Official description
The supporting documentation does not match the information sent on the claim.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N206 means

When a payer reviews records, it checks that the documentation describes the same patient, date, provider, and service as the claim. N206 means that check failed. The records might be perfectly good, just not for this claim, or the claim may misstate what the records describe.

It often appears with CARC 16 or CARC 252, and sometimes CARC 150 when the records describe a lower level of service than billed.

Common causes

  • Notes for a different date of service or a different visit were attached.
  • The claim lists one rendering provider, but the note is signed by another.
  • The procedure or number of units billed is not what the note documents.
  • The patient’s name or date of birth on the records differs from the claim, such as a name change.
  • Diagnoses on the claim do not appear anywhere in the documentation.

How to fix it

  1. Lay the claim and documentation side by side and compare patient identifiers, dates, provider, services, units, and diagnoses.
  2. If the wrong records were sent, pull the correct ones and resend them referencing the claim.
  3. If the claim was coded incorrectly, submit a corrected claim with resubmission code 7 and the original claim number so it matches the record.
  4. If a late entry or addendum is truly needed, follow your amendment policy and date it honestly.
  5. Where the mismatch is minor and explainable, include a short cover letter describing it.

How to prevent it

Pull records for attachments from the specific encounter tied to the claim rather than searching by patient name alone. Coders should code only from signed documentation for that date.

Codes that may appear with N206

  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): The claim or its support contains errors that prevent adjudication.
  • CO-252 (An attachment/other documentation is required to adjudicate this claim/service.): Documentation is required, and what was received did not support this claim.
  • CO-150 (Payer deems the information submitted does not support this level of service.): The documentation does not support the level of service billed.
  • N205 (Information provided was illegible.): The documentation could not be read, rather than conflicting with the claim.
  • N705 (Incomplete/invalid documentation.): Documentation was incomplete or invalid.
  • N54 (Claim information is inconsistent with pre-certified/authorized services.): Claim information is inconsistent with pre-certified or authorized services.

N206 FAQ

Is N206 a sign of fraud concerns?

Not by itself. Most N206 denials come from clerical mismatches, such as the wrong date or visit note attached. Still, fix them carefully and make sure the claim reflects what was documented.

Which should I change, the claim or the documentation?

The documentation is the source of truth. If the claim was wrong, correct the claim. Only amend records following your organisation's documentation amendment policy, never to fit a claim.

Do I need to appeal or send a corrected claim?

If the claim was wrong, send a corrected claim. If the wrong documents were attached, resend the right ones with a reconsideration request.