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N349 Remark Code: Drug and Administration Method Needed

N349 means the claim did not report both the drug given and the method of administration, and the payer needs both to adjudicate the service. It usually affects drug lines or administration lines billed without their counterpart.

Quick facts

Code
N349 (RARC N349)
Status
Active In use since August 1, 2005.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The claim was denied for missing drug or administration details. The provider corrects and resubmits; the patient is not billed for this adjustment.
Official description
The administration method and drug must be reported to adjudicate this service.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N349 means

A drug claim tells the payer two things: what was given, and how. The drug is usually reported with a HCPCS Level II code and often an NDC, and the administration is reported as a separate service that describes the route, such as an injection or an infusion. N349 means one half of that pair was missing or didn’t match, so the payer couldn’t decide how to pay.

It generally explains CARC 16, and sometimes CARC 107 when an administration line has no matching drug line.

Common causes

  • The injection or infusion was billed but the drug line was left off, often because the drug was thought to be free or stocked by the patient.
  • The drug was billed but no administration service appeared, for example when a nurse visit wasn’t captured.
  • The administration code describes a different route from the one the drug is given by.
  • The NDC or drug units were missing, so the payer couldn’t identify the drug precisely.
  • Drug and administration lines had different dates of service.

How to fix it

  1. Review the medication administration record to confirm the drug, dose, route, and time.
  2. Make sure there is one line for the drug (HCPCS code, units, and NDC where required) and a matching line for the administration service.
  3. Verify the administration code fits the route documented and that both lines share the same date of service.
  4. For payer-supplied or patient-supplied drugs, apply the payer’s specific instructions.
  5. Resubmit as a corrected claim with frequency code 7 and the original claim number.

How to prevent it

Build drug and administration charges as a linked pair in your charge master so staff can’t post one without the other. Capture the NDC and route at the point of care and review drug lines for NDC-to-HCPCS agreement before release.

Codes that may appear with N349

  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): The claim is missing information; N349 specifies the drug and administration method.
  • CO-107 (The related or qualifying claim/service was not identified on this claim.): The related or qualifying service was not identified, as when an administration is billed without the drug.
  • M119 (Missing/incomplete/invalid/ deactivated/withdrawn National Drug Code (NDC).): Addresses a missing, invalid, or deactivated National Drug Code (NDC).
  • M123 (Missing/incomplete/invalid name, strength, or dosage of the drug furnished.): Used when the drug's name, strength, or dosage is missing or invalid.
  • N846 (National Drug Code (NDC) supplied does not correspond to the HCPCs/CPT billed.): States the NDC supplied does not correspond to the HCPCS code billed.

N349 FAQ

Does the payer want a separate line for the administration?

Usually yes. Most payers expect the drug and its administration on separate lines, each with its own code. Some payers bundle certain administrations, so check their rules.

How is the method of administration shown?

Mainly through the administration service code billed (for example injection versus infusion), plus the drug's HCPCS code and NDC. Some payers also want route information in supplemental fields.

What if the drug was supplied by the patient or free of charge?

Follow the payer's instructions. Some want the drug line reported with a nominal charge or specific modifier so the administration can be processed.