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N395 Remark Code: Missing Laboratory Report

N395 means a laboratory report was required to process the claim, and the payer did not receive it.

Quick facts

Code
N395 (RARC N395)
Status
Active In use since August 1, 2007.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The claim is denied until the lab report is received. The provider supplies it; the patient is not billed for this adjustment.
Official description
Missing laboratory report.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N395 means

Many coverage decisions depend on a lab value: a drug covered only above or below a result, supplies tied to a test, or a procedure that requires confirmed findings. When the payer needs proof, it asks for the lab report. N395 says that report didn’t arrive.

It is usually paired with CARC 252 or CARC 163.

Common causes

  • The claim indicated an attachment would follow, but it was never sent.
  • The payer requested the report by letter and the request wasn’t answered.
  • The lab was performed by an outside laboratory, and the billing office never had a copy.
  • The report was sent to the wrong address or without the claim reference.

What to do

  1. Figure out which report is needed. Match the service billed with the payer’s policy to see which test and time frame it wants.
  2. Get the report from your system or from the performing lab. It should show the patient’s name, collection date, test, result, and reference range.
  3. Check timing. Make sure the collection date falls within the window the payer’s policy requires.
  4. Send it through the payer’s attachment method, with the claim number or attachment control number.
  5. Follow up to confirm the claim is being reprocessed.

How to prevent it

For services whose coverage hinges on lab values, collect the report before billing and keep it with the claim. If a payer always requires it, attach the report to the original submission. For outside labs, request results automatically when the order is placed.

Codes that may appear with N395

  • CO-252 (An attachment/other documentation is required to adjudicate this claim/service.): An attachment is required; N395 identifies the lab report.
  • CO-163 (Attachment/other documentation referenced on the claim was not received.): The attachment referenced on the claim was not received.
  • N396 (Incomplete/invalid laboratory report.): Used when a lab report was received but is incomplete or invalid.
  • N467 (Missing Tests and Analysis Report.): Covers a missing tests and analysis report.
  • N342 (Missing/incomplete/invalid test performed date.): Addresses a missing or invalid date a qualifying test was performed.

N395 FAQ

Why would a payer need a lab report?

Some drugs, supplies, equipment, and procedures are covered only when lab values meet certain thresholds. The report proves the values.

Can I send a summary of the results?

Most payers want the actual lab report showing the patient, collection date, results, and reference ranges, not a summary in a note.

What if the lab was done elsewhere?

Request the report from the performing lab or ordering provider and send it with the patient's identifiers and your claim number.