Skip to main content

N524 Remark Code: Payment Constitutes Payment in Full

N524 means the payer's policy treats the amount paid as payment in full for the service. The difference between the charge and the payment is generally not collectible from the patient, apart from any patient cost-sharing the remittance shows.

Quick facts

Code
N524 (RARC N524)
Status
Active In use since March 1, 2010.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The unpaid balance is a write-off under the payer's policy or your agreement. Do not bill it to the patient.
Official description
Based on policy this payment constitutes payment in full.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N524 means

N524 closes the door on balance billing. It tells you that, under the payer’s policy, the amount paid settles the service. Whatever you charged above that payment, other than cost-sharing the remittance explicitly assigns to the patient, is not the patient’s to pay.

The remark usually sits beside a contractual adjustment such as CARC 45, or CARC 209, which says the provider cannot collect the amount from the patient.

When it shows up

  • Network contracts that prohibit billing members beyond the allowed amount.
  • Government programs and workers’ compensation systems where legislation or regulations make the payment final.
  • Payer policies for specific services, such as certain facility or bundled payments.

What to do

  1. Post the balance as an adjustment, not as a patient balance.
  2. Collect only the PR amounts listed on the remittance.
  3. Check the payment amount against your contract or fee schedule. N524 does not mean the amount is right.
  4. Dispute underpayments through the payer’s reconsideration or appeal process if the allowance is below what you are owed.
  5. Refund any patient overpayment if you collected more than their stated responsibility at the visit.

How to avoid problems

Map N524 in your posting rules as a contractual write-off so balances never reach patient statements. Balance billing after a payment-in-full remark can violate contracts and, in some programs, law. Monitoring allowed amounts is the way to catch underpayments; see how to read CARC and RARC codes.

Codes that may appear with N524

  • CO-45 (Charge exceeds fee schedule/maximum allowable or contracted/legislated fee arrangement.): The charge exceeded the allowed amount, and N524 confirms the allowance is payment in full.
  • OA-209 (Per regulatory or other agreement.): Per regulatory or other agreement, the provider cannot collect the amount from the patient.
  • CO-94 (Processed in Excess of charges.): Processed in excess of charges, sometimes explained with this remark.
  • MA125 (Per legislation governing this program, payment constitutes payment in full.): Per legislation governing the program, payment constitutes payment in full.
  • N82 (Provider must accept insurance payment as payment in full when a third party payer contract specifies full reimbursement.): The provider must accept the insurance payment as payment in full when a third party contract requires it.
  • N381 (Alert: Consult our contractual agreement for restrictions/billing/payment information related to these charges.): Points to your contract as the source of the payment terms.

N524 FAQ

Can I bill the patient for the balance?

Generally no. N524 says the payment is payment in full. Only patient cost-sharing reported separately, such as PR group deductible or coinsurance, is collectible.

What if the payment is lower than my contract?

N524 describes the payer's policy, not the correctness of the amount. If the payment is below your contracted rate, dispute the payment amount with the payer.

Is N524 used by workers' compensation?

It can be used by any payer whose policy or governing rules make its payment final. Workers' compensation and some government programs commonly limit patient billing.