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N702 Remark Code: Decided From Prior Similar Claims

N702 means the payer made its decision after reviewing other claims, already processed or still in process, for the same or similar services for this patient. Typically those other claims used up a limit or overlap with what you billed.

Quick facts

Code
N702 (RARC N702)
Status
Active In use since March 1, 2014.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The service is denied or reduced because of the payer's claim history review. It is the provider's adjustment unless the patient agreed in advance to pay where the payer allows.
  • PR (Patient Responsibility): Where the plan's benefit limit was reached, the patient may be responsible under the plan terms and any required notice.
Official description
Decision based on review of previously adjudicated claims or for claims in process for the same/similar type of services.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N702 means

Payers don’t judge each claim in isolation. Before paying, they look at the patient’s claim history, including claims still being processed, for services that match or resemble the one being billed. N702 tells you that history drove this decision. Most often, another claim has already covered the service, used up a benefit, or makes this claim redundant.

The other claim may be yours, or it may be from a different provider, which is why the reason isn’t always obvious from your own records.

Common scenarios

  • Same or similar equipment: the patient already has comparable equipment on file, so a new item isn’t covered.
  • Frequency limits: another provider already billed the allowed number of a service in the period.
  • Overlapping claims: your office submitted the same services twice, perhaps once as a correction sent as a new claim.
  • Pending claims: a claim still in process from another provider triggered the decision before either was paid.

How to fix it

  1. Ask the payer which service and date of service it matched against.
  2. Search your own claims for duplicates or overlapping submissions, and void or correct them. See duplicate claim denials.
  3. Explain genuine differences if your service is not the same, such as a replacement due to loss or damage, or a change in the patient’s condition, and appeal with documentation.
  4. Ask the patient about recent services from other providers when the matching claim is not yours.

How to prevent it

For equipment, supplies, and frequency-limited services, check with the patient, and with the payer where it offers such a lookup, before providing the service. Sending corrections as replacements instead of new claims avoids creating overlaps in the first place.

Codes that may appear with N702

  • OA-18 (Exact duplicate claim/service (Use only with Group Code OA except where state workers' compensation regulations requires CO)): Exact duplicate claim or service.
  • PR-119 (Benefit maximum for this time period or occurrence has been reached.): The benefit maximum for the period or occurrence was reached by earlier claims.
  • CO-151 (Payment adjusted because the payer deems the information submitted does not support this many/frequency of services.): The frequency of services is not supported.
  • N703 (This service is incompatible with previously adjudicated claims or claims in process.): The service conflicts with, rather than repeats, other claims on file.
  • N640 (Exceeds number/frequency approved/allowed within time period.): The number or frequency allowed within a time period was exceeded.
  • N674 (Not covered unless a pre-requisite procedure/service has been provided.): A prerequisite service was not found in the patient's history.

N702 FAQ

Will the payer tell me which claim it compared against?

Not in the remark. Ask provider services for the date of service and provider type of the related claim; privacy rules may limit details if another provider billed it.

Is N702 common for equipment and supplies?

It can be. Payers often check whether the patient already has the same or similar equipment, or received supplies recently, before paying a new claim.

What if the other claim was billed in error?

If your office sent it, correct or void that claim. If another provider did, explain the situation to the payer and ask it to review; the other provider may need to correct its claim.