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N544 Remark Code: Referring/Ordering Provider Warning

N544 is an alert that the claim was paid, but the referring or ordering provider on it does not match the payer's system records. Unless the mismatch is corrected, future claims with the same problem will not be paid.

Quick facts

Code
N544 (RARC N544)
Status
Active In use since July 1, 2011; last modified March 14, 2014.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The line was processed normally. Any adjustments come from other codes; the alert is a warning about future claims.
Official description
Alert: Although this was paid, you have billed with a referring/ordering provider that does not match our system record. Unless corrected this will not be paid in the future.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N544 means

N544 is a warning shot. The claim went through, but the referring or ordering provider you reported did not match the payer’s records. The payer paid this time and is telling you that, once enforcement applies, claims with the same mismatch will be denied.

It concerns services billed with an ordering or referring provider, such as lab, imaging, durable medical equipment, and some therapy services, where the ordering provider is reported in box 17 and 17b.

What to do

  1. Compare the name and NPI on the claim with the ordering provider’s NPPES record and, where applicable, the payer’s enrollment record.
  2. Fix your data if your system has a typo, a nickname, or an old NPI.
  3. Contact the ordering provider’s office if its enrollment is missing or out of date and ask it to update.
  4. Correct future claims so they report the exact enrolled name and NPI.

Mismatches caught at the alert stage are free to fix. The provider enrollment guide covers ordering and referring provider requirements.

Codes that may appear with N544

  • CO-45 (Charge exceeds fee schedule/maximum allowable or contracted/legislated fee arrangement.): A routine contractual adjustment often seen on the paid line carrying this warning.
  • N575 (Mismatch between the submitted ordering/referring provider name and the ordering/referring provider name stored in our records.): The ordering or referring provider name does not match records, used when claims are denied.
  • N574 (Our records indicate the ordering/referring provider is of a type/specialty that cannot order or refer.): The ordering or referring provider is of a type or specialty that cannot order or refer.
  • N613 (Alert: Although this was paid, you have billed with an ordering provider that needs to update their enrollment record.): Alert that the ordering provider needs to update their enrollment record.
  • CO-183 (The referring provider is not eligible to refer the service billed.): The referring provider is not eligible to refer the service billed.

N544 FAQ

What does the payer compare?

Usually the referring or ordering provider's name and NPI from box 17 and 17b against its enrollment records. Name format and NPI must both match.

What if the ordering provider isn't enrolled?

Some payers, including Medicare, require ordering and referring providers to be enrolled. Ask the provider's office to enroll or update its record.

Do I need to refile this claim?

No. It was paid. Fix the data for future claims.