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N80 Remark Code: Missing Prenatal Screening Info

N80 means the prenatal screening information on the claim was missing, incomplete, or invalid. Some payers, particularly Medicaid programs, require documentation or data from a prenatal risk screening before paying certain maternity services.

Quick facts

Code
N80 (RARC N80)
Status
Active In use since January 1, 2000; last modified February 28, 2003.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The claim is denied or held for a correctable documentation issue. It is not billable to the patient while it can be supplied.
  • PI (Payer Initiated Reduction): A payer-initiated adjustment, common with Medicaid programs that require prenatal screening data.
Official description
Missing/incomplete/invalid prenatal screening information.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N80 means

Several payers, especially state Medicaid programs, tie prenatal payment to early risk screening. The screening helps identify medical, behavioral, and social risks so pregnant patients can be connected with care management or support services. When a payer requires screening data on the claim or as an attachment and does not get it in usable form, it returns N80.

N80 is usually paired with CARC 16 or CARC 252.

Common causes

  • The required prenatal risk assessment form was not submitted with the first prenatal claim.
  • The form was incomplete, for example missing signatures, dates, or required sections.
  • The claim lacked a code or indicator the payer uses to show the screening was done.
  • The screening was completed by another provider, such as a health department, and not linked to the claim.

How to fix it

  1. Find the payer’s requirement in its maternity or prenatal billing guide.
  2. Locate the completed screening in the patient’s record and check that every required field is filled in.
  3. Submit it the way the payer requires, either as an attachment, a separate form submission, or claim indicators.
  4. Send a corrected claim with resubmission code 7 if the claim itself needs new codes or indicators.
  5. Complete the screening at the next visit if it was never done, and ask the payer how to bill afterward.

How to prevent it

Include the payer-required risk screening in the new obstetric visit template, and hold the first prenatal claim until the screening is on file. Keep a checklist of state-specific prenatal requirements for each Medicaid plan you bill.

Codes that may appear with N80

  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): Required information is missing; N80 identifies the prenatal screening data.
  • CO-252 (An attachment/other documentation is required to adjudicate this claim/service.): An attachment is required, such as a completed screening form.
  • N146 (Missing screening document.): A screening document of any kind is missing.
  • N243 (Incomplete/invalid/not approved screening document.): The screening document is incomplete, invalid, or not approved.
  • N148 (Missing/incomplete/invalid date of last menstrual period.): The date of last menstrual period is missing or invalid, another pregnancy-related data element.

N80 FAQ

What is prenatal screening information?

It depends on the payer. Some Medicaid programs require a standard prenatal risk assessment form at the first prenatal visit, and others want specific screening results or indicators on the claim. The official text does not specify.

Which claims need it?

Usually prenatal visits, global obstetric packages, or enhanced prenatal services. Check your state program's or payer's maternity billing guide.

Can I send the screening after the visit?

Often yes, if it was completed at the visit and simply not submitted. If the screening was not done, the payer may not pay the related service.