Skip to main content

N713 Remark Code: Incomplete or Invalid Report

N713 means the payer received a report for this claim but found it incomplete or invalid, for example unsigned, missing the date of service, or for the wrong patient. The claim stays unpaid until a complete, usable report is supplied.

Quick facts

Code
N713 (RARC N713)
Status
Active In use since March 1, 2014.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The provider is responsible for the adjusted amount until an acceptable report is on file. The patient should not be billed.
Official description
Incomplete/invalid report.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N713 means

With N713 the payer is acknowledging that it has a report, but telling you the report does not do its job. Something about it prevents the reviewer from using it to confirm the service: key content is absent, it lacks an authentication, it belongs to another encounter, or it cannot be tied to the claim.

The remark is deliberately broad. It can refer to a diagnostic report, a procedure report, a consultation, or any other report the payer’s policy calls for. It is usually attached to CARC 251 (attachment incomplete or deficient) or CARC 16.

Common causes

  • No authentication. The report is unsigned, or an electronic signature did not print on the copy sent.
  • Date mismatch. The report covers a different date than the service billed.
  • Wrong or partial document. A preliminary read, a single page of a multi-page report, or another patient’s report was sent.
  • Missing required elements. The payer’s policy expects specific findings, measurements, or an interpretation that the report does not contain.

How to fix it

  1. Ask the payer, or read its request letter, to learn exactly which part of the report failed.
  2. Retrieve the final, signed version from the record. If the author needs to clarify content, use a dated addendum.
  3. Confirm the patient identifiers and service dates match the claim before sending.
  4. Submit the corrected report through the payer’s attachment or reconsideration channel, referencing the original claim number.
  5. If the report you first sent was complete, request a reconsideration and explain why it meets the policy.

How to prevent it

Build a pre-send check for reports: signed, final, correct date, correct patient, all pages. Many N713 denials come from sending whatever version the system printed first. If one payer repeatedly returns N713 for the same service, compare its policy wording against your report template. The CO-16 guide covers related documentation gaps.

Codes that may appear with N713

  • CO-251 (The attachment/other documentation that was received was incomplete or deficient.): The attachment that arrived was incomplete or deficient, which is the situation N713 describes for a report.
  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): Some payers use the general 'lacks information' code and let N713 point to the defective report.
  • CO-250 (The attachment/other documentation that was received was the incorrect attachment/document.): Used when the document received was the wrong one entirely, not just a flawed report.
  • N714 (Missing report.): No report arrived at all, instead of a defective one.
  • N711 (Incomplete/invalid summary.): The same problem with a summary rather than a report.
  • N206 (The supporting documentation does not match the information sent on the claim.): The documentation contradicts the claim, which is a narrower problem than an incomplete report.
  • N205 (Information provided was illegible.): The report was received but could not be read.

N713 FAQ

What makes a report 'invalid' under N713?

Common reasons are a missing signature or credentials, no date, a date that does not match the claim, the wrong patient, or a draft that was never finalized. The payer's letter or portal note may list the exact defect.

Should I send the same report again?

Only after fixing what was wrong. Resending the same pages usually produces the same result. If the original was correct, ask the payer to identify the defect before you appeal.

Can I add missing details to an old report?

Only through a properly dated and signed addendum that follows your organization's amendment policy. Do not alter the original entry to satisfy a payer.