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N764 Remark Code: Hematocrit (HCT) Value Missing

N764 means the hematocrit (HCT) value the payer requires was missing, incomplete, or invalid on this claim. It is typically required on claims for dialysis-related services and anemia drugs, where the lab value supports dosing and coverage.

Quick facts

Code
N764 (RARC N764)
Status
Active In use since March 1, 2016.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The provider must correct the claim. The denial is not patient responsibility.
Official description
Missing/incomplete/invalid Hematocrit (HCT) value.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N764 means

For some services, the payer needs a lab result reported directly on the claim. Hematocrit, the percentage of blood volume made up of red blood cells, is one such value. It helps the payer judge whether anemia treatment is appropriate and correctly dosed, and it is commonly required on dialysis facility claims and claims for drugs that stimulate red blood cell production.

N764 says the hematocrit value was not reported, was incomplete, or was invalid. It usually pairs with CARC 16. The service may be payable once the value is supplied.

Common causes

  • The lab result was not interfaced to the billing system, so the field was blank.
  • The value was entered in the wrong format, for example with a decimal or percent sign where not allowed.
  • A hemoglobin value was reported where the payer expected hematocrit.
  • The result was older than the payer’s allowed lookback period.
  • On institutional claims, the value was placed under the wrong value code.

How to fix it

  1. Find the most recent qualifying hematocrit result for the period, per the payer’s instructions.
  2. Report it in the required format and location on the claim. Institutional claims typically use a value code for this purpose.
  3. If both hemoglobin and hematocrit are required, make sure both are present.
  4. Submit a corrected claim, using the payer’s rules for replacement claims.

How to prevent it

Interface lab results to billing so claims pull the latest value automatically, and add a pre-billing edit that stops dialysis and anemia drug claims without it. A claim validator can check for the required value before submission.

Codes that may appear with N764

  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): The claim lacks required information, identified by N764 as the hematocrit value.
  • CO-A1 (Claim/Service denied.): A general denial clarified by the missing lab value.
  • N796 (Missing/incomplete/invalid Hemoglobin (Hb or Hgb) value.): The hemoglobin value is missing or invalid, the companion lab value some claims report instead.
  • M107 (Payment reduced as 90-day rolling average hematocrit for ESRD patient exceeded 36.5%.): A payment reduction tied to hematocrit levels for ESRD patients.
  • N342 (Missing/incomplete/invalid test performed date.): The test performed date is missing or invalid.

N764 FAQ

Which claims need a hematocrit value?

Payers commonly require it on claims for end-stage renal disease services and for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents used to treat anemia. Requirements vary by payer and setting.

Which hematocrit value should be reported?

Usually the most recent value before the service or billing period, as defined by the payer's instructions. Report the number in the format the payer specifies.

Can I report hemoglobin instead?

Some payers accept either hemoglobin or hematocrit, and others require a specific one. Follow the payer's instructions for the claim type.