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N336 Remark Code: Replacement Date Missing or Invalid

N336 means the replacement date reported for an item, such as equipment, a prosthesis, or an appliance, was missing, incomplete, or invalid, so the payer could not evaluate the replacement against its coverage rules.

Quick facts

Code
N336 (RARC N336)
Status
Active In use since December 2, 2004.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The claim was denied because the replacement date could not be validated. The supplier or provider corrects it; the patient is not billed for the adjustment.
Official description
Missing/incomplete/invalid replacement date.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N336 means

Replacement of equipment or a prosthesis is usually covered only under specific conditions: the item’s useful life has passed, it was lost or damaged beyond repair, or the patient’s needs changed. To test those conditions, payers look at the replacement date. N336 says that date was not sent, was incomplete, or did not make sense relative to the rest of the claim.

The remark typically explains CARC 16. Once the date is corrected, the payer may still apply frequency or useful-life limits, which can lead to a different denial.

Common causes

  • A replacement item was billed like a first-time item, with no replacement date or indicator.
  • The date entered is the order date or the date the old item broke, not the date the new one was provided.
  • The replacement date precedes the original placement date or is in the future.
  • The supplier did not report the replacement reason or supporting narrative the payer expects with the date.

How to fix it

  1. Confirm from the delivery records the date the replacement item was provided to the patient.
  2. Gather the reason for replacement and any documentation, such as a police or fire report for loss, or a practitioner note describing a change in condition.
  3. Add the replacement date and, where the payer requires it, the replacement indicator or modifier and narrative in the additional information field (box 19 on the CMS-1500, or the equivalent note on the 837P).
  4. Submit a corrected claim with frequency code 7 and the original claim number.
  5. If the item was replaced before the payer’s useful-life limit without a covered reason, discuss liability with the patient before delivery on future cases.

How to prevent it

Ask at intake whether the item replaces something the patient already has. When it does, collect the original date, the reason, and the documentation before delivery, and check the payer’s replacement policy so the claim goes out complete.

Codes that may appear with N336

  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): Required information is missing; N336 identifies the replacement date.
  • PR-119 (Benefit maximum for this time period or occurrence has been reached.): The benefit maximum for the period has been reached, a common result once a too-early replacement date is confirmed.
  • N333 (Missing/incomplete/invalid prior placement date.): Covers the prior placement date of the original item being replaced.
  • N171 (Payment for repair or replacement is not covered or has exceeded the purchase price.): Used when repair or replacement is not covered or has exceeded the purchase price.
  • M3 (Equipment is the same or similar to equipment already being used.): Indicates the equipment is the same as or similar to equipment the patient already has.

N336 FAQ

What is the difference between a replacement date and a prior placement date?

The prior placement date is when the original item was provided. The replacement date is when the new item replacing it was provided. Some claims need both.

Do I need to explain why the item was replaced?

Often yes. Payers commonly want the reason, such as loss, irreparable damage, or a change in the patient's condition, along with supporting documentation.

Can N336 appear on dental claims?

It can. Any payer that tracks replacement of prosthetics or appliances may use it, but it is more common on DME and prosthetic claims.