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N820 Remark Code: EVV Units Don't Support the Visit

N820 means the units recorded in the Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) system don't meet the requirements for the visit billed. Usually the claim bills more units, or time, than the verified visit supports, so the payer denies or reduces the service.

Quick facts

Code
N820 (RARC N820)
Status
Active In use since July 1, 2019.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The unsupported units are a provider liability and aren't billable to the member.
Official description
Electronic Visit Verification System units do not meet requirements of visit.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N820 means

EVV records how long a caregiver was actually present. Payers convert that time into billable units and compare it with the units on the claim. N820 means the comparison failed: the verified visit doesn’t support the units, duration, or visit requirements billed.

N820 is specific to Electronic Visit Verification programs, which are required for Medicaid personal care and home health services. Each state or managed care plan sets how visit time converts to units and how strict the match must be.

Common causes

  • Billing authorized units instead of delivered units. The claim bills the full authorized shift, but the caregiver clocked out early.
  • Rounding differences between the agency’s billing system and the state’s rules.
  • Missed clock-out that left the visit incomplete or artificially short.
  • Split visits recorded as several EVV entries but billed as one line, or the other way round.
  • Minimum visit rules, where the service requires a minimum duration the EVV visit didn’t reach.

How to fix it

  1. Pull the EVV visit detail for each date on the claim and total the verified time.
  2. Apply the state’s unit conversion to get the supportable units.
  3. If the EVV record is wrong, such as a missed clock-out, correct it through visit maintenance with the required reason and documentation.
  4. Rebill the supported units in box 24G, using a corrected claim with resubmission code 7 in box 22 or the method your state requires.

How to prevent it

  • Bill from EVV-verified time, not from schedules or authorizations.
  • Configure your billing system with the state’s rounding and unit rules.
  • Review exception reports daily for missing clock-outs and short visits. See MUE and units of service denials for general principles on unit limits.

Codes that may appear with N820

  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): A billing error; N820 names the conflict between EVV units and the claim.
  • CO-151 (Payment adjusted because the payer deems the information submitted does not support this many/frequency of services.): The information submitted doesn't support this many services or units.
  • N818 (Claims Dates of Service do not match Electronic Visit Verification System.): The dates, rather than the units, conflict with EVV.
  • N821 (Electronic Visit Verification System visit not found.): No EVV visit was found at all.
  • N362 (The number of Days or Units of Service exceeds our acceptable maximum.): Units of service exceed the payer's acceptable maximum, without regard to EVV.

N820 FAQ

How are EVV units calculated?

Typically from the clock-in and clock-out times, converted to billing units using the state's rounding rules, such as 15-minute units. Rules vary by state and service.

Can I bill the time in the care notes if it's longer than EVV shows?

Generally the payer will pay only what EVV verifies. If the EVV record is wrong, correct it through the approved visit maintenance process before rebilling.

Will the payer pay the verified units?

Some payers reduce the line to the supported units; others deny the whole line. If the line was denied, rebill with the verified units.