Look up another code

N558 Remark Code: File Where Equipment Was Received

N558 means the payer will not process the equipment claim because the item was received outside its service area. The claim must be filed with the plan whose service area covers the place where the patient received the equipment, usually the delivery or pickup location.

Code: N558 (RARC N558)
Status: Active In use since July 1, 2012.
Code set: Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes: CO (Contractual Obligation): The supplier sent the claim to the wrong plan. The amount should not be billed to the patient; refile it with the correct local plan.
OA (Other Adjustment): Some payers report the misdirected claim as an other adjustment. It is a routing problem, not a decision about coverage.
Official description: This claim/service is not payable under our service area. The claim must be filed to the Payer/Plan in whose service area the equipment was received.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified: September 24, 2026 against the official X12 list.

What N558 means

N558 is a routing message for equipment claims. The payer that received your claim covers a specific geographic service area, and the equipment was received by the patient somewhere else. Rather than paying, it tells you to file with the plan whose area includes the place where the patient received the item.

This rule is common for durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies, especially when a supplier ships to patients in more than one state or when the patient’s home plan is in a different region from the supplier. It generally accompanies CARC 109 (claim not covered by this payer) and sometimes CARC B11 when the claim has been forwarded for you.

Common causes

The item was shipped to a patient in another plan’s territory, but the claim went to the plan local to the supplier’s office.
The claim went to the patient’s home plan when the payer’s rules require filing where the equipment was delivered.
The delivery address on the claim was wrong or blank, so the payer assumed a location outside its area.
The patient moved and received equipment at a new address before the account was updated.

How to fix it

Confirm the delivery location from the proof of delivery, shipping record, or pickup log.
Identify the correct plan for that location. For Blue plans, check the ancillary claim filing rules in the provider manual or ask provider services.
Submit a new claim to the correct plan with the accurate patient address and any required delivery information. Because the first payer did not process it, this is usually a new claim rather than a corrected one.
Watch the filing limit. The clock at the correct plan may already be running. Keep the N558 remittance as proof of your original, timely submission in case you need it. See timely filing denials.

How to prevent it

Build a payer-routing rule into intake: when the delivery ZIP code falls outside your local plan’s area, route the claim by delivery location instead of by the supplier’s address. Keep the patient’s current address on file and check it at every order, not just at setup.

Codes that may appear with N558

CO-109 (Claim/service not covered by this payer/contractor.): The claim is not covered by this payer and must go to the correct payer or contractor; N558 says which one.
CO-B11 (The claim/service has been transferred to the proper payer/processor for processing.): Used when the payer has transferred the claim itself to the proper plan instead of returning it.

N557 (This claim/service is not payable under our service area.): The same service-area rule, but based on where a lab specimen was collected.
N559 (This claim/service is not payable under our service area.): The same rule, but based on where the ordering physician is located.
N104 (This claim/service is not payable under our claims jurisdiction area.): A Medicare jurisdiction message pointing you to the correct Medicare contractor.

N558 FAQ

Which plans use N558?

It is most often tied to service-area filing rules for durable medical equipment, such as the ancillary claim rules used by Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. Any payer that assigns DME claims by delivery location can use it.

Is the patient's coverage the problem?

Usually not. N558 is about which plan processes the claim, not whether the patient is covered. Once the right plan receives it, normal coverage rules apply.

What address decides the correct plan?

The location where the equipment was received, which for shipped items is typically the delivery address. For retail pickup it is the store location. Confirm the rule with the plan, because definitions can differ.

Important: read before using this information

This page is general educational information about a standard industry code set. It is not medical billing, coding, legal, reimbursement, or compliance advice, and it does not create a professional or advisory relationship with ClaimsRevenue.

Code definitions, payer usage, contracts, and laws change, and payers may apply the same code differently. The information is provided “as is,” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including accuracy, completeness, or currency. You are solely responsible for verifying it against the current official X12 code lists, CMS guidance, your payer contracts, and payer policies before relying on it, and for every billing, coding, collection, and appeal decision you make.

Using this information does not guarantee that any claim will be paid or that any appeal will succeed. To the fullest extent permitted by law, ClaimsRevenue and MOODRX LLC are not liable for any loss or damage arising from its use. Official code descriptions are published by X12 and are quoted for reference only. See our full Claims Validation Disclaimer.