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N279 Remark Code: Pay-To Provider Name Invalid

N279 means the pay-to provider name on the claim was missing, incomplete, or invalid. The pay-to provider is where payment should be sent when that differs from the billing provider, and the payer could not accept the name reported.

Quick facts

Code
N279 (RARC N279)
Status
Active In use since December 2, 2004.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): An administrative error the provider can correct; the patient is not billed.
Official description
Missing/incomplete/invalid pay-to provider name.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N279 means

A claim identifies both a billing provider (who is claiming payment) and, when needed, a pay-to provider (where payment should be delivered). Many organizations send payment to a central business office or a bank lockbox, so the pay-to details differ from the billing details. N279 says the pay-to name did not meet the payer’s requirements.

The remark usually comes with CARC 16. The service has not been evaluated; the payer wants clean payee information first.

Common causes

  • A pay-to section was included but the name was blank or truncated.
  • The name reported is a billing company or bank rather than the provider entity the payer expects.
  • Payment arrangements changed (new lockbox, new billing office) and the claim setup no longer matches the payer’s enrollment record.
  • The pay-to name conflicts with the billing provider’s legal name in a way the payer cannot reconcile.

How to fix it

  1. Decide whether a separate pay-to is needed. If the billing provider receives payment directly, remove the pay-to data.
  2. If it is needed, check your enrollment and EFT records with the payer to see what payee name they hold.
  3. Correct the pay-to name in your billing system’s provider setup (UB-04 form locator 2 for paper institutional claims).
  4. If the payer’s records are the outdated part, send a change of information to the payer before rebilling.
  5. Resubmit with frequency code 7 and the original claim number.

How to prevent it

Treat payee information as part of payer enrollment. Whenever your organization changes its lockbox, business office, or payment arrangement, update each payer’s records and your claim setup together. Our enrollment denials guide explains how mismatched provider records lead to administrative denials.

Codes that may appear with N279

  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): Missing or invalid information; N279 identifies the pay-to provider name.
  • N281 (Missing/incomplete/invalid pay-to provider address.): The pay-to address is the problem rather than the name.
  • N280 (Missing/incomplete/invalid pay-to provider primary identifier.): The pay-to provider's primary identifier is the problem.
  • N256 (Missing/incomplete/invalid billing provider/supplier name.): The billing provider's name, not the pay-to name, is the problem.

N279 FAQ

Do I need a pay-to provider at all?

Only when payment should go somewhere other than the billing provider's address, such as a lockbox or a central business office. If the billing provider receives payment directly, pay-to data is usually left off.

Where does the pay-to name go?

On the UB-04 it is form locator 2. On HIPAA 5010 electronic claims the pay-to section is primarily an address, so how a payer checks the name can vary; follow its companion guide.

Is this related to where my checks or EFTs go?

It can be. Payers generally pay according to enrollment and EFT records, so the pay-to data on the claim should agree with what they have on file.