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N737 Remark Code: Missing Sleep Study Report

N737 means the payer required a sleep study report to process this claim and did not receive one. It is common on claims for sleep apnea devices, where the study results show whether the patient meets coverage criteria.

Quick facts

Code
N737 (RARC N737)
Status
Active In use since March 1, 2015.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The supplier or provider is responsible for the denied amount until the report is provided.
Official description
Missing Sleep Study Report.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N737 means

When a payer covers sleep apnea treatment, such as positive airway pressure equipment or an oral appliance, it usually wants proof that a qualifying sleep test diagnosed the condition. N737 means that proof was absent from the claim file. The payer could not check its coverage criteria and denied the service, typically with CARC 252 or CARC 272.

Because the report is created by a sleep lab or interpreting physician, but the claim often comes from a supplier, this denial is frequently a hand-off problem between organizations.

Common causes

  • The supplier received an order and prescription but not the sleep study itself.
  • The report was sent to the payer but not tied to the claim number.
  • The claim was for replacement supplies, and the supplier assumed the original study was still on file with the payer.
  • The patient had testing at a lab outside your network, and no one requested the report.

How to fix it

  1. Contact the sleep lab or ordering physician for the signed, interpreted sleep study report.
  2. Check that it supports the payer’s coverage criteria before sending.
  3. Submit it with the claim number and patient identifiers through the payer’s attachment or reconsideration process.
  4. If no qualifying study exists, discuss with the ordering physician whether testing is needed, and do not bill the patient unless the payer’s rules allow it.

How to prevent it

Make the sleep study report a required intake document for sleep therapy orders. Store it with the patient record so it is available for replacement supply claims and future audits.

Codes that may appear with N737

  • CO-252 (An attachment/other documentation is required to adjudicate this claim/service.): An attachment is required; N737 says it is the sleep study report.
  • CO-272 (Coverage/program guidelines were not met.): The payer could not confirm its coverage criteria without the study.
  • CO-50 (These are non-covered services because this is not deemed a 'medical necessity' by the payer.): Some payers deny as not medically necessary when no qualifying study is on file.
  • N736 (Incomplete/invalid Sleep Study Report.): A sleep study report was received but was incomplete or invalid.
  • N457 (Missing Diagnostic Report.): A missing diagnostic report of any kind.
  • N714 (Missing report.): A missing report of an unspecified type.

N737 FAQ

Who should send the sleep study report?

The entity that received the denial, often a DME supplier, submits it. The report itself usually comes from the sleep lab or the physician who interpreted the study.

What if the patient's study was years ago?

Some payers accept an older study for replacement equipment, and others require a recent one. Check the payer's policy for the item and situation.

Can I resubmit the claim with the report attached?

Follow the payer's direction. Many handle it as a records submission or reconsideration; others want a corrected claim with the attachment.